EXTERNAL PARASITES 83 



Symptoms of Infestation. — Large miui])ers of ticks cause 

 trouble similar to that caused by numerous lice. The parasite, 

 being a blood-sucker, robs the host of considerable blood and 

 causes it irritation. The birds do not thrive, sitting hens 

 leave their nests, laying hens cease laying, young birds make 

 but little growth. Badly infested birds may die. 



Treatment. — Combat the parasite with sanitary measures, 

 as outlined for the prevention of lice. (See page 72.) 



, THE BEDBUG OF POULTRY 



The chicken bug or dove cote Inig is known as the Acanthia 

 inodora. It is often found around unclean roosts and dove 

 cotes. It is closely allied to the bedbug, from which it requires 

 a microscopic study to differentiate it. 



Acanthia Inodora 



Description. — Fig. 35 illustrates a specimen obtained from an 

 infestation in Colorado. It will be noted that it is provided with 

 long antennae, which possess long joints or articles. Its head is 

 rather narrow and it has prominent eyes. The thorax is crescent- 

 shaped on the anterior border and is much wider than the head. 

 It iz provided with three pairs of legs. Its abdomen, like the ab- 

 domen of the louse, is segmented and is practically destitute of hair. 



Life History. — The acanthia inodora lays its eggs in the filth, 

 where they soon Latch, if the weather be warm, and rapidly de- 

 velop to the adult state. 



Symptoms of Infestation. — This bug is cjuite a pest in 

 ^lexico and some parts of the southern United States. At 

 times they are found in great numbers 

 swarming over the roosts and nests, 

 specking the eggs with their excre- 

 ment, attacking the hosts at night and 

 sucking their blood. The conditions, as 

 a result, are the same as is the case in 

 any other form of infestation by ex- 

 ternal parasites. 



Treatment. — Similar to the preced- 

 ing. The chicken bug is at times a for- 

 midable foe, even invading dwellings 

 and proving more troublesome than the Vt*^ 



connnon bedbug {Simex Jectulariits). fig. 35. Acanthia Inodor.\. 

 They begin to appear about the middle 



of April, and at times it is necessary to keep the chickens en- 

 tirely out of doors. 



The bugs may live for many months on the filth about a 

 dove cote or henhouse and the disinfection must be most thor- 

 ouo^h to eradicate them. 



