312 Farm Poultry 



MITES 



These parasites are frequently called "lice," 

 although they are entirely different from the ani- 

 mals described under that name. Mites are 

 usually smaller than lice. The red poultry mite 

 is one of the greatest pests. It is frequently 

 called the "summer louse" and is found in great 

 numbers in the poultry house and other places 

 frequented by fowls in the summer time. It 

 is frequently seen about cracks and crevices, 

 underneath and about the perches, and also in 

 the nests, particularly those of sitting hens. It 

 multiplies rapidly, so that if a few have been 

 introduced into a poultry house, the place may 

 become overrun within a short time. 



The habit of these pests is very different from 

 that of lice. The mites breed in cracks and 

 chinks about the perches and nests and go on 

 the body of the fowls at night to feed. They 

 pierce the skin and fill themselves with blood. 

 Though they are small, each insect can remove 

 an appreciable amount of blood. The fowl not 

 only suffers from the loss of blood but is dis- 

 turbed during the night when it should have per- 

 fect rest and be free from annoyance. Sitting 

 hens are so much annoyed that they are com- 

 pelled to leave the nests in order to relieve 

 themselves of the parasites. If the nests and 



