THE SPINOSE EAR TICK. 61 
ARTIFICIAL CONTROL. 
It is not our intention to go into detail regarding remedial measures 
at this time, as a circular is being prepared from which the informa- 
tion may be obtained. 
The larve, which may remain attached to the fowl as long as 8 
days before dropping, are almost certain to be carried from one 
locality to another with the fowls. In order to prevent such dis- 
semination, fowls should be isolated in a tick-free cage or inclosure 
for 10 days before being transported to a tick-free house, as by the 
end of the period all will have dropped from the fowl. As it is the 
habit of ticks to crawl into cracks and crevices, it should be borne 
in mind that they may be conveyed from one point to another in 
shipping cages unless great care is taken. It is thought quite proba- 
ble that the larve may be disseminated by pigeons and small birds. 
The species is resistant to insecticides to a remarkable degree. 
When once this tick has become established in a poultry house, it is 
difficult to eradicate it entirely except through the use of fire. Much, 
however, can be accomplished by the frequent use of kerosene, crude 
petroleum, or creosote. Frequent and thorough cleaning of the 
poultry house and the application of one of these substances to the 
cracks and crevices will greatly assist in keeping the pest down. 
Several plans for roosts which will prevent the ticks from gaining 
access to fowls at night have been suggested by Lounsbury (1903a) 
and others. In practice it has been found that roosts and nests sus- 
pended from the roof with baling wire will largely protect the fowls 
from tick attack. It is also important that the ticks be furnished 
with the least number of hiding places possible. 
Genus ORNITHODOROS Koch. 
Only one of the four species of the genus Ornithodoros which occur in 
the United States has been studied.t_ Thisspecies,Ornithodorosmegnini, 
appears to be the only one of the four that occurs in sufficient numbers 
to be of particular economic importance. Nuttall and Warburton in 
their monograph of the Argaside have recognized 11 well established 
and 3 doubtful species as belonging to the genus. One of these, 
O. moubata, is of special importance, as it transmits human tick fever 
in Africa. 
THE SPINOSE EAR TICK. 
Ornithodoros megnini (Dugés). 
The common name of Ornithodoros megnini is taken from its habit 
of infesting the ears and from the characteristic spines on the body of 
the nymph. 
1 As previously stated studies of two other species (0. turicata and O. talaje) are now under way. 
