158 FORTT-TMIRD REPORT ON THE StATE MuSEUM. [62] 



Other Species of Ixodes. 



Other species of the genus are known to attack the human species, 



and instances are recorded of persons having suffered severely from 



the wounds of the Ixodes Americanus Linn., /. unipunctatus Pack., /. 



cruciarius Fitch, and others. A species of tick occurring in Persia, 



the Argas Persicus, is said to be so exceedingly venomous that death 



frequently results from its bite in less than twenty-four hours. A 



nearly allied species, Argas Americanus Packard, has been taken from 



cattle in Texas. 



Remedies. 



An effective remedy for the Ixodes bovis when occurring on cattle, 

 will be found in a strong kerosene emulsion, which could be applied 

 with a force pump and thoroughly rubbed in by hand. An applica- 

 tion of kerosene and lard — one part of the former and three parts of 

 the latter — rubbed in with a rag while warm, has been recommended 

 in Bulletin 5 of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, for 

 destroying lice infesting cattle, and would doubtless be effective 

 against the cattle-tick. 



Bryobia ? pratensis Garman. 



[nfesting a Dwelling-house. 



(Ord. Arachnoidea: Fam. Teombididj£.) 



The following notice of a mite that is becoming very troublesome 

 from its frequent invasions of dwelling-houses and other buildings, 

 appeared in the Ohio Farmer of March — , 1889: 



Mrs. J. H. O., of Napoleon, Ohio, writes that a small insect has 

 taken possession of her house and wishes to know what it is. Of its 

 abundance she says : 



" They seem to be most troublesome in rooms we do not occupy 

 every day. They resemble chicken vermin, but are different in color. 

 AVhen very young they look like specks of brick dust, but do not 

 move when they are of that size. When they are old enough to 

 travel they look like specks of blood moving around. The fully 

 grown ones are of a brown color with red legs. They seem to come 

 from out of doors, crawling through every crevice, under windows 

 and base boards. They climb up the walls and windows. The tojjs of 

 my curtains were nearly covered before I noticed them. They will 

 stick on them and breed, and along the border of the carpet. One year 

 ago this spring I noticed a few along the edge of the carpet. I took 

 up the carpet and scalded the floor with hot soapsuds, and did not see 

 any more until last fall. I have tried everything that I could hear of 

 that would kill insects, but nothing will have any effect on them 

 except kerosene, when I can get it to touch them, but it will soon 

 evaporate^ and then they will come thicker than before. I have never 



