+ 
If it has been found by any other persons than these, or in any other parts of the world, 
previous to its discovery here by me, I have not been able to find the fact recorded. 
On December 31 and January 1, I examined 100 infested grains of this wheat, 
which had been continually kept in the laboratory since it was received, and found 
32 per cent of the worms dead, infested by the mites. 
While making these examinations I frequently threw the grains containing infested 
larvee into a shallow glass dish, where they remained on my table until the warm 
weather during the latter part of February, when the temperature of the laboratory 
at night was much higher than it had been during the previous cold weather. The 
effect of the change was soon plainly to be seen. The contents of the dish began to 
swarm with newly developed mites, and a larva dropped into their midst was imme- 
diately attacked, and after that its life was of short duration. Larve placed at some 
distance from the dish suffered a like infection. 
To test the matter I placed near the dish some weeds, in the pith of which some 
larvee were hibernating, and in two days the mites had found and destroyed them. 
These young mites when first noticed are very minute, of elongate form, and extremely 
active, running about in search of larvee; and when one is found they immediately 
puncture the skin and suck the juices. 
In a day or two the posterior segments of the abdomen begin to enlarge, and this 
process continues until the inflated, bladder-like abdomen becomes ten or even twenty 
times the size of the cephalothorax. 
During this time they have gradually lost their ambulatory powers, and remain 
stationary upon their victims. In the meantime changes equally wonderful have been 
going on within the abdomen. 
Eggs are continually forming, and within these the young mites are as continually 
developing, passing through their entire metamorphosis, which includes the acquisition 
of the fourth pair of legs (an exceptional character among mites), within the abdomen 
of the mother, from which they make their way as fast as they reach maturity. 
The females are quite prolific. I have counted frequently from 40 to 50 young 
and eggs within the abdomen, and believe that they produce even more. The mothers 
survive the birth of a large number, if not a majority, of the young. The male I have 
never found, and I am inclined to believe with Mr. Newport, that the species is 
parthenogenous.© The minute size of these young mites admits of their free access 
to the larvee of the moth, through the very small opening where this made its entry, 
and a single mite with its progeny would be sufficient to destroy it. 
That this is very often the manner of attack is proved by the fact that grains in 
which the larva is badly infested frequently have no other break in the hull by which 
even a young mite could gain admission.. Like the larvze on which they subsist, their 
development is retarded or increased by the temperature, they being quite active at 
a temperature of 60° F.; but in colder weather able to remain within the abdomen 
of the parent for months in a dormant state, awaiting a rising temperature. 
While, as stated, this was probably the first published record 
of the occurrence of this Pediculoides in America, the writer has 
since had reason to believe that it was present many years prior to 
this date; and, indeed, in the light of information that was obtained 
during the past year, 1909, it seems altogether probable that it not 
only occurred but proved noxious to man, in Massachusetts, as early 
as 1830. 
The particular reference, however, to which attention is called 
may be found in the Prairie Farmer for the year 1845, page 216. 
a1 have since observed the male, though only occasionally. 
[Cir. 118] 
