NO. 1382. 



THE ACARINA OR MITES— BANKS. 



47 



Fig. 80. — Dermackntur variabilis, 



SHIELIl UP KK.MAI.E. 



The Moubata bug. (K s(iri(/n!t\ Ls an African species whose puncture 

 is reported to produce etiect.s almost as dangerous as those ascribed to 

 the Miana bug. It attacks both man 

 and beast, sometimes occurring in 

 houses. The pain of the puncture is 

 not felt until several hours after it is 

 inflicted, but gradually th(^ spot be- 

 comes inflamed and irrital)le. 



The Ixodidje, or true ticks, are repre- 

 sented b}" a large munber of species in 

 tropical countries, ])ut in the temperate 

 regions they are much less conunon. 

 However, there are about twenty-tive 

 species in the United States, and one of 

 these, the Texas cattle tick, is a pest of 

 prime importance. Our ticks are ar- 

 ranged in about seven genera, which may be ta))ulated as follows: 



1. Palpi short, not or only slightly longer than broad ; capitnlum short 2 



Palpi plainly longer than broad ; capitulinn longer 5 



2. Dorsal surface of cai)itnlum hexagonal, the sides projecting in angles: male with 



anal plates :> 



Dorsal surface of capituluni rectangular, sides straight; male without anal plates. 4 



3. Second and third palj)al joints extend laterally into sharp points; stigmata nearly 



circular _ BoopliUm- 



Second and third paiital joints even; stigmata comma-shaped B}iipiceplialn.t 



4. P^yes present; external border of palpi straight; coxfe I bidentate Dcrmaceiilor 



Eyesal)sent; external border of palpi uneven; coxee I not bidentate. //,Tmr7^>/(//.s(f//.s' 



5. Anal groove surrounds anus anteriorly and opens jxjsteriorly; eyes absent; stigmal 



plate nearly circular Ixo(ie>^ 



Anal groove surrounds anus posteriorly and opens anteriorly; eyes present; stig- 

 mal })late reniform I\ 



6. Anal plates absent Ambh/o)iuii(( 



Anal plates present in male Hii(i/o>inn<i 



Our one species of Bmipli'ihis {B. annalatii^ ^'^y) {h(>vf-'< Riley) is 

 the distributer of Texas fever, a disease of cattle that causes enormous 

 losses in the South, particularly in cattle imported there from the 

 North. The southern cattle tick is found only in the Southern States 

 and the Government maintains a quarantine line where cattle l)rought 

 North mav be cleansed of their ticks. The female tick is of a dark, 

 dull brown color, with reddish scutum and legs; the male is reddish 

 brown, the legs paler at articuhitions. The cause of Texas fever is a 

 minute Protozoan parasite, PyrosoiiKi hl<j(^iiiiii!iniin. This is taken up 

 with the blood by the BoophUitx, whicli then inoculates each animal 

 that it attacks. And even the young th-at have not infested atiy 

 animal may produce the disease. The young ticks, called ''seed ticks.'' 

 are born on the groiuid; they climl) upon grasses or bushes, and await 

 the coming of cattle. Each attaches itself at the first opportunity, and 

 begins to draw blood. In about a week it molts, remaining on the 



