[149] Report of the State Entomologist. 291 



of umbilical cord through which the mite drew its sustenance from 

 its host, and others, that it was a silken thread spun by the mite to 

 serve to fasten it and to prevent its being brushed o£E by the motions 

 of the limbs of the beetle. Close examination showed, however, that 

 it had no organic structure, that it was fragile and became easily 

 detached; and finally, a French naturalist, M. Duges, ascertained that 

 it consisted simply of the viscous and dried excrement of the mite, 

 which could be removed and replaced at every new excretion. 



The discovery of this parasite in Massachusetts in such abundance 

 is gratifying. There is scarcely a doubt that the dead beetles reported 

 as covered by the " lice," were killed by the attack. (The same attack 

 has in former years come under my observation, near Albany, where 

 the beetles were so infested that every portion of their surface, 

 including their legs, was so covered as to leave room for no additions 

 unless they could be superimposed.) When received, although still 

 upon the potato leaves, they were not feeding,but were evidently greatly 

 debilitated and near their end. The occurrence of the parasite so 

 early in the season (May) is also favorable, for every beetle now 

 destroyed should serve to lessen the number of the pest that would have 

 appeared later in the year by several hundreds. The present brood 

 of beetles will be followed by at least one other during the year, and 

 each female continues to deposit eggs, from time to time, during the 

 five or six weeks of her natural life, until about a thousand have been 

 deposited. 



Our correspondent might render excellent service if he would 

 inform himself whether this parasite is to be found in other localities in 

 his vicinity, or in other portions of the State; and if not so found, if he 

 will distribute the infested beetles and so extend the sphere of opera- 

 tions of the serviceable little mite. It would be necessary that they 

 be sent attached to the beetle, as they die very soon after being 

 separated from their host. If some of the potato leaves are put in 

 the box with the beetles when packing them for transportation, there 

 would be less liability of the mites being rubbed from them in transit. 



The Cheese-mite Infesting Smoked Meats. 



Tyroglyphus siro (Linn.). 



From C. H. Wessels, provision broker. New York city, some pieces 



of smoked ham were received in June [1885], which were infested with 



myriads of a small white mite. Inquiry was made as to their nature 



and origin, and for some safe and effectual method of dealing with 



