INSECTS ATTACKING STORED GRAIN. 53 



Kansas Notes. These weevils have been known to do consider- 

 able damage in Lawrence mills. 



FLAX-SEED MITE. 

 (Tyroglyphus sp.; Order, Acarina.) 



Diagnosis. An increasing quantity of fine debris or dust in 

 the bin or box containing the flax-seed. On close examination, 

 many microscopic, whitish, moving insects. 



Description and Life-history. This flax-seed-eating mite closely 

 resembles the common flour and cheese mite, but is probably a 

 different species. Mites may be distinguished from other minute 

 insects by their having four pairs of legs 

 instead of three, as with true insects. The 

 Flax-seed Mite is white and soft, and is 

 so small that many of them together re- 

 semble fine, white dust. They occasion- 

 ally occur in immense numbers in bins of 

 flax-seed in warehouses or elevators. One 

 correspondent reports them as several 

 inches deep on the floor of an old bin. 

 In the infested bins there will be seen a 

 FIG. 26. FLAX-SEED MITE, quantity of brown, earthy-looking sub- 



greatly enlarged. f v J * xl. \ J 



stance, which is composed of the body 



remnants of the mites. It is probable that the mites attack only 

 broken or partially decaying seeds. 



Remedies. There is to be found almost always associated with 

 this Flax-seed Mite another slightly larger mite ( Cheyletus sp.) 

 which preys upon it, and does much to reduce the numbers of the 

 pest. If these other mites are present, they will probably suc- 

 ceed in practically exterminating the Flax-seed Mite in the course 

 of a few weeks. 



The burning of sulphur in the infested building is recommended. 

 If the mites are confined to one or two bins, bi-sulphide of carbon 

 should be introduced, as recommended in case of Angoumois Grain 

 Moth (p. 50), remembering the highly inflammable nature of the 

 substance. 



