PARASITOLOGY. 69 



THE TICKS. 



ARGASIDAE. 



The family Argasidae includes the ticks. They are 

 provided with flat, oval bodies. The piercing man- 

 dibles and hypostome are located beneath an over- 

 reaching cephalo-thorax, or anterior part of the dorsal 



Fig. 25— Argas Miniatus, Larva. 



a, Mandibles and Palpi. b, Legs. 



c, Body, 



surface. The dorsal shield is absent. The life his- 

 tory is similar to that of the common ticks. 



Argas Miniatus. 



Synonyms. — Argas Americanus; Chicken tick. 



History. — Found in Mexico and the Southern part 

 of the United States. 



Desc7'iption. — The parasite is flat like a bedbug, 

 and ovoid in shape. It is provided with an over- 

 reaching dorsal surface, the top of which is pitted. 

 The head parts consist of two mandibles provided 

 with teeth at the terminal end. Beneath these is a 



