INSECTS ATTACKING STORED GRAIN. 53 



Kansas Notes. — These weevils have been known to do consider- 

 able damagre in Lawrence mills. 



FLAX-SEED MITE. 

 (Tyroglyphus sp.; Order, Acarina.) 



Diagnosis. — An increasing quantity of fine debris or dust in 

 the bin or box containing the flax-seed. On close examination, 

 many microscopic, whitish, moving insects. 



Description and Life-history. — This flax-seed-eating mite closely 

 resembles the common flour and cheese mite, but is probably a 

 different species. Mites may be distinguished from other minute 

 insects by their having four pairs of legs 

 instead of three, as with true insects. The 

 Flax-seed Mite is white and soft, and is 

 so small that many of them together re- 

 semble fine, white dust. They occasion- 

 ally occur in immense numbers in bins of 

 flax-seed in warehouses or elevators. One 

 correspondent reports them as several 

 inches deep on the floor of an old bin. 

 In the infested bins there will be seen a 



Fig. 26. Flax-seed Mite, quantity of brOWn, earthv-lookiug sub- 

 greatly enlarged. ^ • ^ • i' j. o^i i i 



stance, which is composed oi the body 

 remnants of the mites. It is probable that the mites attack only 

 broken or partially decaying seeds. 



Remedies. — There is to be found almost always associated with 

 this Flax-seed Mite another slightly larger mite ( Clieyletiis sp.) 

 which preys upon it, and does much to reduce the numbers of the 

 pest. If these other mites are present, they will probably suc- 

 ceed in practically exterminating the Flax-seed Mite in the course 

 of a few weeks. 



The burning of sulphur in the infested building is recommended. 

 If the mites are confined to one or two bins, bi-sulphide of carbon 

 should be introduced, as recommended in case of Angoumois Grain 

 Moth (p. 50), remembering the highly inflammable nature of the 

 substance. 



