HABITAT. 



Harvest mites ure most alx.nulaiit in damp locations, along the bor- 

 ders of streams und other ])odies of water, and on the edges of forest 

 and woodland. The}' occur also on trees and shrubbery, evidently 

 atfectingthe lower surface of the leaves, from which the}^ drop off when 

 these are rudely shaken, and find lodgment on the neck or other exposed 

 parts of the body. Riley describes '"''Leptns airu'7'lcanu,r'' as affecting 

 chief!}' the scalp and armpits. In places infested b}^ harvest mites it is 

 a matter of danger to sit down or lie in the grass and herl)age for any 

 length of time, as the mites will then have easy access to almost any 

 portion of the l)ody. As a rule these creatures appear to be dependent 

 on the shade and not to live in the direct sunlight, ))ut some forms 

 occur in sunny h)cations. 



These mites are most a))vmdant and troul)lesome in the Tropics, and 

 become less numerous as we go northward. The}' are generally dis- 

 tributed in the Gulf States, up the Mississippi River to Missouri and 

 Illinois, and through the Atlantic Coast States to New Jersey. The 

 writer has personal knowledge of their occurence in troublesome 

 a])undance as far north as Monmouth County, N. J., near the central 

 line of the State, but they appear to be unknown in New England or 

 north of latitude 40° in the East. It is probable that these mites occur 

 northward of ]Monmouth Count}', as there is a report of infestation 

 on Long Island. 



During the sunnner of 1906 more complaint than usual was received 

 of harvest mites, evidently due to the extremely warm and humid 

 weather which prevailed over the districts affected by these pests. 



A communication was received August 24 from a correspondent at 

 Oregon, Ogle County, 111., of a plague of chiggers in that vicinity, on 

 the hillsides of the banks of the Rock River, 200 feet high. This local- 

 ity is west and a little north of C'hicago and is evidently the northern- 

 most point of which we have actual knowledge of the occurrence of these 

 mites at the present time. 



Harvest mites are well known in England and Scotland under this 

 name and as "gooseberry bugs." On the Continent of Europe, also, 

 they are al^undant, especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, in parts 

 of Germany, and in France. Indeed, in some of these countries they 

 have at times caused considerable annoyance to the peasantry, whom 

 they have hindered or prevented in the harvesting of certain crops. 

 The mites are troublesome, too, in troi)i'cal America, in the West Indies, 

 and in Japan. 



LIFE HISTOIIV. 



The life histoi'v of a harvest mite, as related l)v Mr. P)anks, is sub- 

 stantially as follows: The female lays her eggs in or upon the ground, 

 sometimes to the number of 4(0 in one place. The eggs are usually 



[Cir. 77] 



