48 PARASITOLOGY. 



Synonyms. — Chiggtv ; mite; harvest bug; red mite. 



History. — Found in Europe and America. 



Description. — This parasite is just visible to the 

 unaided eye. The body is oval in shape and reddish 

 in color; the legs are provided with six articles 

 each, the terminal end of the last segment being fur- 

 nished with two booklets and a hair ; the piercing 

 apparatus is conical in shape and on either side is 

 found a palpus ; the legs are located on the anterior 

 half of the body. 



Lz/e Cycle. — The eggs are laid in the cracks and 

 crevices and in the filth of hen houses, where they 

 hatch, the q^z first hatching into the six-legged mite, 

 which moults and develops into the eight-legged 

 state. 



Animal Infested. — They infest the cuticular surface 

 of birds and small animals, and pierce the skin and 

 suck the blood, producing great irritation, which may 

 cause death. They may become parasites of large 

 animals if the infested birds roost in quarters adja- 

 cent to or within the stable. 



Treatment. — Same as for Dermanyssus. One inch 

 air slaked lime in bottom of nests. Dip hens in I5& 

 creolin. 

 Leptus Irritans (Leptus — thin, small; irrito — to irritate.) 



Syno7iym. — Chigger. 



History, — Found in the grass and timber during 

 the hot part of summer. 



Description. — Always in the larval form ; the body 

 is nearly round ; the head is broad and is provided 

 with piercing mandibles. It is bright red in color. 



Animals Infested. — The parasite is brushed from 



