NO. 1382. 



THE ACARTXA OR MITES— BANKS. 



m 



Fig. liiU.— Aleurobius farin.1!; a. venter of male; h, 



LEG I OF .male; C, palpus: (I, TARSUS IV OF MALE. 



the skin is tinelv uniiuihito, which character serves to distinguish it from 



all other Tyroglyphids. The original species of the genus (as indicated 



b}^ the name) and some others 



have been found in sugar. The 



mites sometim(\s spread to the 



hands of those liandling such 



materials, and produce a skin 



disease Ivnown as '"grocers' 



itch." Michael has described 



two i-emarkalde forms which 



he discovered in the nest of the 



mole. The body is broad, flat, 



and the margins crenulate and 



provided with spines. They 



do not occur in deserted nests, 



but their relation to the mole 



is unknown. They may, per- 

 haps, form a distinct genus. 

 The curious genus Lahldo- 



pJinrus has not been found in this countr3\ The genus was based on 



a Ilypopus that is found attached to moles. Michael has worked out 



its life history, finding that the adult is nmch like GhjcipliaguH. The 



male has several curious comb-like projec- 

 tions from the under side of the first and 

 second pairs of legs, and some plumose 

 bristles on the other legs. 



The genus Aleurohius contains one spe- 

 cies, ^1. fa/'ina', which appears to be well- 

 nigh cosmopolitan. It is the species most 

 commonly found in flour, grain, and stored 

 foods. The greatlv enlarged anterior legs 

 of the male are a unique character in the 

 family. The boc\y has a few rather short 

 hairs. Cleanliness, window screens, and 

 frequent handling of the grain will be the 

 best preventives for the protection of mills 

 against this pest. Fumigation with hydro- 

 cyanic acid gas is the best remedy. 



T(/ro(/I>/j)Iius, the typical genus, is known 

 in this country by three or four species, two 

 of which are very common. One, a species 



in grain and stored foods, appears to be the true cheese mite, T. s/ro 



Linnieus. Our specimens, however, have rather longer hairs on the 



body than the European specimens. Our other common species is the 



mushroom mite, T. llntni^rl Osborn. It is very close to the European 



-HiSTIOGASTER MALU.S, 

 FEMALE. 



