334 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 fowjs in the summer time. It is frequently 

 seen about cracks and crevices, underneath and 

 about the perches, and also in the nests, partic- 

 ularly 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 disturbed during the night when 

 it should have perfect rest and be free from annoy- 

 ance. Sitting hens are so much annoyed that they 

 are compelled to leave the nests in order to relieve 

 themselves of the parasites. If the nests and 

 perches, and the cracks and crevices about them, are 



