90 Mites Injurious to Domestic Animals. 



is really the species concerned. Numerous batches of Gamasid 

 fowl mites from tropical regions have been forwarded to the British 

 Museum (Natural History), but, with the exception of a few 

 examples from Palestine and from the Kenya Colony, and an 

 example found on Gecinus vaillantii at Tangiers, there have not been 

 any specimens of D. gallinae amongst them. It would appear, 

 therefore, that the European red mite of poultry does not thrive 

 in tropical and sub-tropical countries. 



L. bursa is closely allied to L. sylviarum, of which perhaps it is 

 a variety. 



Liponyssus sylviarum, Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877. 

 (Figs. 67 b, 68 b, and 69 b.) 



Liponyssus sylviarum is very closely allied to L. bursa, but has 

 only a single pair of long hairs at the posterior end of the dorsal 

 scutum instead of two pairs as in that species. There are only two 

 pairs of hairs on the sternal plate instead of three. Ventral plate 

 of male with a transverse line posteriorly in front of the anal plate, 

 this line being absent in L. bursa. (Text fig. 69.) 



This Gamasid mite occurs on several kinds of birds in Europe, 

 including sparrows and pigeons, but it is not a very common species 

 in England. In the United States it has recently been found on 

 sparrows and in their nests, and also attacking poultry in several 

 localities. It sometimes spends its entire life cycle on the fowl, 

 all stages being found amongst the feathers. Egg production is 

 much reduced in birds infested by it. Fortunately, this parasite 

 seems to have been introduced into only a few localities in the 

 United States, and, owing to the prompt and energetic measures 

 taken against it, has probably been stamped out. 



Owing to the fact that this mite can live and breed on the fowl, 

 it is necessary to apply some substance which will kill the mites 

 without injuring the host. Fumigation by nitro-benzol has been 

 successfully employed for this purpose at the Purdue University 

 Agricultural Station, Lafayette, Indiana. This method should not 

 be used in the case of laying hens, as the fumes affect the unlaid 

 eggs to such an extent that they cannot be used for domestic 

 purposes. Dusting with flowers of sulphur is also said to be a 

 useful remedy. 



The mite described by Megnin in 1891, under the name Lophoptes 

 patavinus as causing a special acariasis in Paduan fowls, is possibly 

 L. sylviarum. 



Another species of Liponyssus (L. suffuscus, Railliet) is said to 



