INSECTS INJURIOUS TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS, ETC. 683 



Mites on Poultry* 



The Common Chicken Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae DeGeer,) 

 is the most important of the chicken mites. It is of universal 

 occurrence in this country where there are chickens. The mite 

 itself is a minute whitish gray object, just large enough to be 

 seen in good light with the unaided eye. The mites feed on 

 blood from the chickens, and when numerous result in a condition 

 of depleted vitality indicated by an unthrifty appearance. The 

 mites feed on the poultry at night hiding in crevices in the houses, 

 about the roosts and on the floors during the day. The life cycle 



FIG. 600. The Common Chicken Mite, U. S. Dept. of Agr. 



in warm weather requires only a week so the increase in numbers 

 may be extremely rapid. 



Control is based on this habit of leaving the fowls in the day 

 and remaining in the houses. Application of many different kinds 

 of insecticides will kill the mites if thoroughly done. In old badly 

 infested houses all the roosts and nests should be removed, all the 

 litter burned or buried deeply and the nest boxes and roosts 

 themselves burned if they can easily be replaced as is often the 

 case. The house should then be sprayed with a good spray from 

 a pump which will give plenty of pressure. A good barrel outfit 

 will be satisfactory. Good results can be secured with more work, 

 in small houses by the use of some small atomizer but the larger 

 outfit is to be preferred. The spray should be directed at different 



