B.C. Entojiolouical Society. 



.3. Malucvpodu. — These are ;ilso land forms. 1 ody worm-like and possessing 

 numerous legs. The Peripatiis. an animal rarely met with, is au example of this 

 class. 



■1. Diplopr/ihi' — Also land animals. They possess long, cylindrical, and many- 

 segmented hodies. Two iiairs of short legs are found ou each segment ; short 

 antenu.-e are also pre.sent. Example: Thousand-legged worms (Spirobolus). 



5. ChUopoda. — Another class of land animal. The bodies are long, tiat, and 

 many-segmented. One pair of rather long legs is found on each segment ; long 

 antenna? are present. Example: Centipedes (Scolopeiidra). 



6. lusecta or Ilc-capodn. — Either aquatic or terrestrial, but chiefly the latter. 

 The body of the adults is divided into three distinct regions — head, thorax, and 

 abdomen. Adult forms possess six legs and many are winged. Sletamorphoses 

 occur in all but the two lowest orders. Example: Insects (butterflies, moths, 

 beetles, etc.). 



From the above classification we gather that mites, although closely related to 

 insects, are not placed In the same class ; hence it is a mistake to call a mite an 

 insect. The main differences, as have been noted, are that in the mites head and 

 thorax are united and eight legs are present ; while in insects the body of adults 

 is divided into three distinct regions — head, thorax, and abdomen, and six legs are 

 present. Some species, however, notably the blistei'-mites. have only four legs, 

 while young red spiders have six legs before the first moult. 



General H.vbits. 



The mode of life of the different members of this class varies greatly; some 

 are parasitic on higher animals, others infest living plants, and many feed upon 

 dead animal or vegetable matter, thus acting as scavengers. Of the mites that are 

 parasitic on higlier animals, we have only to mentlonihe various ticivs that are so 

 common in many parts. An exception to this is the so-called sheep-ticlv, which is 

 a true insect belonging to the order Diptera (flies). Man himself is subject to the 

 attacks of a well-known parasitic mite, the itch-mite. It burrows into the skin, 

 causing the itching sensation so characteristic of the disease. Parasitic mites 

 sometimes occur on insects ; a common species is found beneath the wings of locusts. 

 Many mites also infest food products ; the.v are sometimes found in cheese, in sugar, 

 and in preserved meats. 



Mites in.juriois to I'l.\nts and their Control. 



.\s these interest us more particularly to-day. \\e shall now briefly consider 

 some of their important features. They all feed by puncturing the tissues and 

 extracting iilant-juices. Eggs are laid singly on the outside or inside of ulant- 

 tissues or in clusters upon the bark. The young develop rapidly and soon new 

 broods are produced ; consequently a great deal of damage is often done. 1'hey 

 continue to breed throughout the summer, hot, dry weather being especially 

 favourable. Cold, wet weather checks their activities. The common mites known 

 to us in this Province are the red spider (Tctraniiclnix hinnii-iilntii.i), which frequents 

 all sorts of vegetation: the brown mite (Bnjnhia iiiatriixix). also a general feeder: 

 and the pear-leaf blister-mite {Eriophijen purl), producing blister-like galls on pear- 

 leaves. To these may now be added the two forms mentioned in the earlier part of 

 this paper. In warmer countries mites are responsible for a great deal of harm. 

 The red spider is very common, one form being especially bad on citrus trees. We 

 may also mention the silver-mite of lemon (B. olclvonis) and the cotton-leaf blister- 

 mite (E. (jossiipii). Reference will only be made in this discussion to the forms 

 found in tlie Province. 



It is generally believed that mites winter over in the adult stage under buds 

 and bark-scales. At any rate, this seems tj-ue In the case of tlie pear-mite. 

 According to Weldon, of Colorado, who has published a paper in the Joiinial of 

 EcoiKiinic Eiif(iiiii)Io<iii. Oclol)er. ]91l>. on his observations of orchard mites, the adult 



