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A new Chicken Plague in Texas. 



A new chicken plague appeared last summer and to some extent continues through 

 the winter. It is caused by an animal, specimens of which I send in alcohol. This 

 creature attacks the hens, sucks itself full of blood, falls oft', retires into the walls 

 of the chicken house, and comes for a new supply when it feels hungry. Pullets it 

 kills by creeping in masses under their wings, under their shoulders, and actually 

 sucks their lives out until they die. In this section of the country this animal is a 

 new-comer, but is already known in a larger portion of this county, and I was re- 

 quested to send specimens to your Department for inspection, comparison, and pos- 

 sible remedy. Soapsuds with carbolic acid have been tried but gave no satisfaction. 

 I shall try in a few days a thorough smoking with burning sulphur, and if successful 

 will repoi-t to you. — [Albert Turpe, Kinney County, Tex., February 14, 1893. 



Reply. — The creatures which are damaging chickens in your vicinity belong 

 to a rather rare species in this country known as Argas americana. They belong 

 to the family of Ticks, so-called, and their nearest allies are the mites and 

 spiders. The common Cattle Tick of Texas, Ixodes or BoophUus hovis, is not distantly 

 related. Inasmuch as a rather strong kerosene soap emulsion has proved to be efti- 

 cacious against the Cattle Tick, there is every reason to believe that it would be 

 equally eff'ective against this chicken parasite. Yon are therefore advised to make 

 a strong emulsion according to the formula given upon page 3 of circular No. 1 of 

 this Division, and to wash the infested poultry and spray the mixture thoroughly 

 about the hen-coops and poultry yards. It is quite likely that the addition of a 

 small quantity of flowers of sulphur to this mixture will render it more eft'ective, 

 but such an ingredient is not a necessity. Yon may reasonably expect relief by a 

 careful and thorough use of this substance. 



The Entomologist would be very glad to receive any further facts which may come 

 to your notice respecting the spread of this insect, the time of its appearance, and 

 the amount of damage which it seems to be doing. — [February 21, 1893.] 



NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Cattle Tick affecting Horses. — The common cattle tick of the southwest 

 {BodjMlus boris) has not l)een recorded as affecting horses in this country. It is 

 therefore worthy of mention that one of our correspondents. Sir Alfred Moloney, 

 Governor of British Honduras, has recently sent us specimens of this creature which 

 were taken from a horse in that Central American colony. 



The smallest Insect knovvrn to Entomologists. — We have recently received a 

 communication from one of our correspondents asking the name, size, and locality 

 of the smallest insect known to entomologists, and replied that so far as known the 

 smallest true insect which has ever been described is Alaptua excisus Westw., a 

 minute parasitic Hymenopteron which occurs in England. Its length is seventeen 

 hundredths of a millimeter, or from six to seven thousandths of an inch, and it is of 

 slender form. This little species is probably parasitic in the eggs of some bark- 

 louse. It is quite likely that there exist other species still smaller, but if so, they 

 have escaped the eye of the entomologist up to the present time. 



The Rose Icerya on Lignum Vitae.— Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell, of Kingston, 

 Jamaica, reports that Iceri/a rosw K. and H., is found abundantly at Kingston, 

 Jamaica, under the bark of Lignum vita'. He thinks it highly probable that this 

 Coccid is a native of Jamaica, and that Lignum vitw is a natural food-plant, from 

 which it has spread to cultivated roses. 



