THE A CABIN A OB .VITES— BANKS. 



83 



crawling- about in early spring, their briuht red color and silky vestiture 

 attracting the attention of even the most casual observer. In the South- 

 west there is a very large, hairy species, T. iii((<jn!jjcuiii Le Conte: it 

 appears at times in enormous numbers, and in parts of Arizona is called 

 '"angelitos" l)y the Mexicans. Most of the species are of good size, 

 some among the largest of the mites. In the Tropics there is a group 



V'^^i 



Fig. 50. — Palpus of tkombidum 



GIGANTErM. 



Fig. 51. — I'ALPUS of TEOMBIDirM 

 MAGNIFlrUM. 



of large species, of which T. tluctornim Linnanis is perhaps the best 

 known; it attains a length of about one-half inch, and occurs in the 

 warmer parts of Africa. It was supposed to be used as a dye in olden 

 times, but does not seem to ]>e so used now. One of our species, 

 T. niaritiuiHin Banks, lives under stones l)etween tide marks on the 

 seashore, and feeds sometimes on a maritime Coccid {Rljhrsia tnari- 

 tijna Cockerell). Our most common species in 

 the Eastern States is T. ner'tceuin Sa}-; it occurs 

 in moist woodlands, and feeds upon small in- 

 sects, frequently upon springtails. 



The genus TromhcUa is founded on a curious 

 South American species, and CJtyzeria repre- 

 sents a form from New Guinea w'hicli has pro- 

 jections along the sides of the body. 



Family C.ECULID.E. 



A few mites of peculiar appearance, somewhat 

 like JS'otJirus of the Oribatidtv, but structurally 

 allied to Trombidium^ constitute this family. 

 They are rather large mites, of somewhat rectan- 

 gular shape, and of a leathery texture, the legs 

 are very rough, and the anterior pairs provided 

 with a row of long spines. They terminate in 

 two claws. The coxte are arranged close to- 

 gether in a radiate fashion. The dorsum shows a transverse furrow, 

 mdicating the separation of cephalothorax and abdomen. The former 

 is provided with a median shield, and from each posterior side arises 

 Proc. N. :\I. vol. xxviii— 04 3 



Fig. 52.— C.ectjlus a.mep.i- 



CANUS. 



