30 CLASS ARACHNIDA 



The full-grown mites are about 1 mm. long, of a light 

 gray or whitish color, with dark patches showing through 

 the skin, but when full fed have a distinct red color. They 

 swarm in cracks and corners of the henhouse, and often 

 when numerous, over all surrounding objects, and at such 

 time are liable to become a great pest to man and such other 

 animals as they may get access to. 



The dust bath is considered of use in checking this pest, 

 but when there is a general infestation, the best plan will 

 be found to clear the house, then spray well with kerosene 

 or kerosene emulsion, taking pains to reach the cracks; 

 thoroughly drench the roosts with hot water or kerosene, 

 benzine, or gasoline, whitewash the house, or dust with 

 carbolated lime, and then daub the ends of the roosts, where 

 they come in contact with supports, with coal tar, so the 

 mites would have to cross it to reach the fowls. 



Family Ixodidse. — This family includes forms known 

 commonly as ticks, and familiar examples are the dog tick 

 or wood tick, frequently found upon domestic animals, 

 and other examples are the cattle tick of the Southern States 

 and spotted fever tick of the Rocky Mountain region. In 

 this group the body is robust and becomes much distended 

 in the female when the eggs are developed. The mouth 

 parts are adapted for puncturing the skin of host animals, 

 and the species generally attach themselves to warm-blooded 

 animals as a part of the life-cycle, and in some cases this 

 attachment is permanent, while in others it is temporary 

 and the individual tick may occupy several different hosts 

 in the com-se of its life-cycle. 



The family is of particular importance because of the 

 fact that some of the species are carriers of important 

 diseases, most notable of which is Texas fever, transmitted 

 by the cattle tick. The spotted fever tick is the carrier of 

 s])()tted fever. 



The Pigeon Tick (Aryas rcflexus). — The i)igeon tick is a 

 common species on pigeons found mainly in pigeon houses, 

 and sucks the blood of pigeons for its nutriment. It is, 

 however, able to survive for long periods without food, 



