Feb. '08] JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 35 



habits of the ticks is to give a brief resume of our present knowledge 

 of the group. The species found in this country, according to 

 Banks' latest list, number no less than thirty-four, and aside from 

 the North American Fever Tick Margaropus {Boophilus) annulatus, 

 but comparatively little is recorded relating to their biology. In look- 

 ing through the records for information as to the habits of exotic 

 species, we find but little beside the valuable work of Prof. C. P. 

 Lounsbury, the Entomologist of Cape Colony. Realizing their im- 

 portance, particularly in relation to the dairy industry, he began an 

 investigation of them in 1898. His studies present two results : first, 

 the remarkable discoveries that several dreaded diseases of domestic 

 animals in South Africa are transmitted through the agency of ticks ; 

 and second, the elucidation of the life history and habits of a number 

 of species, including that of Amhlyomma liehraeum, Haemaphysalis 

 leachi, Bhipicephalus appendiculatus, Argas persicus, and more or 

 less completel}^ that of others. Wheler, in England, has given valu- 

 able information on the biology^ of the old w^orld Linnaean species 

 Ixodes ricinus, also found in this country, as has Prof. H. A. Morgan 

 upon several species and Dr. H. T. Ricketts on Dermacentor occi- 

 dentalis. 



In connection with the study of the biology of the North American 

 fever tick, the writer (under the direction of Mr. W. D. Hunter) has 

 taken up the study of other species also, because of their importance 

 as external parasites and because of their possible agency in disease 

 transmission. In this work frequent reference has been made to the 

 publications of the before-mentioned investigators. In addition the 

 writer received valuable information and suggestions from Professor 

 Lounsbury during his visit to this country the past summer. As a 

 result nearly the complete life cycles of eight species represented in 

 this country have been followed in addition to that of the North 

 American Fever Tick Margaropus (Boophilus) annulatus, so that 

 granting the life history and habits of the European Castor-bean Tick 

 Ixodes ricinus, to be the same in this country as found by Wheler, in 

 England, we are now acquainted with that of ten native species, and 

 have data on two additional species. 



The ticks are of primary importance in their transmission of dis- 

 ease. At least ten distinct diseases of man and the domestic animals 

 are known to be thus transmitted, no less than sixteen species of ticks 

 being implicated. Again they are of great importance as external 

 parasites because they irritate and drain the system of the animal 

 attacked and are followed in some hosts by the screw- worm fly (Chry- 

 somyia macellaria) , which deposits her eggs at these points of entrance, 

 with resultant injury. 



