A 



can. 



VAM.—B(]clli(l(«'. 



The members oi this 

 liuiiily are soft-skinned 

 mites, witli a distinct 

 rostrum. The first pair ot 

 appendages are in the form 

 of pincers and tlie palps 

 are slender and unarmed. 



These mites are free- 

 living terrestrial forms, 

 which lead a predatory 

 life. There are a number 

 of British species. A 

 little red species {Bdella 

 littoralis) is common on 

 our sea-coasts. 



Table-caso 

 No. 2f). 



Fig. 74. 



Sarcoj>tcs scabivi, the itch mite, x 100 

 (after Cauestrini). 



S U B - O K D E i;, V. 



ASTIGMATA. 



In these Acari, which 



are closely alUed to the Prostifpiiafa, there is no trace of a 



respiratory system. 



Many of them are parasitic, otiiers are free-living and feed on 



animal and vegetable refuse. 

 It is to this sub-order that the 

 mite (Sarcoptcs scahici) which 

 is the cause of itch belongs. 

 The cheese mite (Tjjroijhjphus 

 siro) is perhaps the most fami- 

 liar of the non-parasitic forms. 

 x\nother species {GlijcijjjJiagus 

 domesticus) is often found in 

 houses. Drawings of these two 

 species are shown in Table- 

 case 26. 



A tuft of wool, with some of 

 tlie flesh still attached, showing 

 the scab caused by a Sarcoptid 

 mite {Psoroptes communis, var. 

 ■p r-g ovis), together with drawings 



. ^,, , , ,. of the mite itself, is on view 



Houiic-n-wte, GlycypJiagus domestiais, . ' 



X 50 (after Michael). m the North Hall. 



