INSECTS INFESTING DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



355 



CHAPTER CCXLVIII. 



The Scab Mite. 



(Pftorujttes cqni.) 



Class, Arachxida ; ^ t:, ■-, . 

 Sulvelass, Acarina ; ) • ' 



The following is taken from the Seventeenth Illinois Report 

 by Professor Cyrus Thomas : 



"The seal) mite of the sheep (Figs. 8H6 and oB7), which is 

 now believed to be the same species as that infesting the horse 

 and ox, belongs to the family Acarid^e, and sub-family Sar- 

 eoptina% which also contains the human itch mite, or mite 

 that produce the disease in man known as the itch.'" 



Fig. 366. 



Fig. 367. 



Fig. 366.— Seal) Mite (adult), 

 liighly magnified, ventral view — 

 color, whitish. 



Fig. 867. — Scab Mite (young), 

 ((^^ enlarged, ventral view — color, 

 "~ Avhitish. 



" The scab, as all are aware, is a skin disease analagous to 

 the mange in the horse and itch in man, and, like these, is 

 produced by a very small mite. It was, for a very long time, 

 supposed that this mite was produced spontaneously by an 

 unhealthy and unclean condition of the flocks, or from some 

 insufficient or improper food, etc., and not from a preceding 

 parent. Our parasite has received various scientific names, 

 according to the fancy or opinion of authors, but, as the 

 further history of its classification is unnecessary now, I will 

 mention but two of these. 



