CLASSIFICATION AND HABITS OF TICKS. eS 
LONE STAR TICK. 
(Amblyomma americanum Linneeus. ) 
The lone star tick derives its name from the bright-silvery spot on 
the scutum of the female. It is widely distributed, having been 
reported from Labrador to Florida, and also from Guatemala and 
Brazil. After Margaropus annulatus, it is the most important tick 
in the United States. Though found more commonly on cattle we 
have taken it from man, horse, mule, dog, goat, hog, deer, squirrel, 
and wolf, and it appears to attack mammals generally. In portions 
of Louisiana and Texas it becomes a pest of considerable importance 
to moss gatherers and other persons who spend much time in the 
forests. It has been repeatedly taken in Texas during the summer of 
1906 on the clothes or attached to the body of agents of the Bureau. 
Packard mentions a case in which one buried itself in the arm of a 
young girl, producing a raised tumor. 
In May it was found on a herd of dairy cows near Dallas in large 
numbers, though only an occasional specimen of Margaropus annu- 
latus was present. The proprietor of the dairy stated that they were 
very annoying through their attaching to milkers. Mr. J. D. Mitchell 
has found it in the vicinity of Kerrville and Llano, Tex., to be the 
most important species, being much more numerous than the fever 
tick. In that region the cattle suffer greatly from it. Its abundance 
seems to be due to the large numbers of sheep and goats kept in that 
section. These serve as hosts, spreading it broadcast, at the same 
time reducing the bunches of Margaropus annulatus seed ticks. 
TaBLeE XV.—Oviposition of Amblyomma americanum. 
ge Period of PTopping| Number 
Collected ame evipo. | ip end | of exes 
Pe eee ae OS aattion= |) siGadl 
Days. | Days. 
5 | Apr. 20 16 BiH seca 
5 | May 18 14 | 22 2, 444 
13 | May 21 9 | 20 984 
25 | June 5 12 22 2, 508 
27 | June 7 12 20 5,040 
...| June 6 11 19 2,659 
-| June 9 14 22 1,736 
.| June 5 10 18 950 
-| June 10 15 23 1,510 
.| June 7 12 20 1, 306 
STIS CU Bye i hee a anh aA Rc oe TE ee ee de Ba | ig) See 19, 137 
TANTS es ep ees RIO berg Sen tr Rhea 2k Pane eel [ee Oe Se i DR a mere 12.5 21.2 2,126 
Our records regarding oviposition, as shown in the above table, are 
from 10 engorged ticks. It will be seen that the maximum number 
of eggs deposited by an individual was 5,040, deposition continuing 
for 12 days; the minimum, 950, with a deposition period of 10 days; 
an average of 2,126 eggs deposited in 12 days. Morgan records as 
many as 6,519 eggs. 
