MISCELLANEOUS PREDACEOUS MITES. ley, 
Perhaps the mite most commonly found with the eggs of the Cicada 
is Pediculoides ventricosus Newp. ‘This species has a very general feed- 
ing habit and is often an active agent in the destruction of the eggs or 
young of insect pests. In breeding cages it is often a nuisance by 
destroying the smaller insects being kept under observation. The 
general form of the male and of the unimpregnated female of this 
mite is similar to that of the next species listed. The gravid female, 
however, develops an enormous globular extension from the tip of her 
abdomen, as illustrated in the accompanying figure (fig. 64). 
Another predaceous mite, not at all uncommon, in the egg slits of the 
Cicada, both in the District of Columbia and in Michigan, is Tyroglyphus 
cocciphilus Bks. (fig. 65), very near 7. longior Gerv., which species it 
Fie. 67.—Cheyletus sp., mite egg 
Fic. 66.—Mite egg parasite, [phis ovalis. parasite of Cicada. (Author’s 
(Author’s illustration.) illustration.) 
very closely resembles. The species named is a widely distributed one 
and frequently occurs also in breeding cages, and often becomes very 
troublesome from its presence in enorn.ous numbers on various food 
substances in the larder. A smaller species of the same genus was 
found with the Cicada eggs, but the material is not in good enough 
condition to make its identification possible. 
A species belonging to the family Gamasidz was found by Mr. Allis 
associated with the eggs of the Cicada (fig. 66). It is apparently an 
undescribed species and is certainly distinct from the half dozen 
known from North America. Mr. Banks has suggested for it the name 
Iphis ovalis. The family to which it belongs includes true insect 
parasites which either live free or attached to their hosts, and there 
is little doubt but that this mite was attracted by the Cicada eggs. 
