THE HEX-MITE. 5L 



Life-history. 



This mite is a fair size, being "70 mm. in the esrff- 

 producing female and *60 mm. in the male ; the 

 posterior end of the body is largest ; flattened, and 

 the abdomen edged with bristles, the stoutish legs 

 also being covered with the same. In colour this 

 mite varies from pale yellowish to dark red. The 

 alimentary canal can sometimes clearly be seen, 

 especially if the mite has just been feeding, when it 

 will be observed to be full of blood. 



Both sexes are armed with the formidable piercing- 

 mouth, the female being, as in all Arthropod or 

 1 jointed-limbed animals,' the most bloodthirsty. They 

 are very prolific and can remain for months without 

 any food. The ova hatch rapidly into little white 

 six-legged larvae, which grow by repeatedly moulting 

 their skins. These young forms are quite white, 

 almost silvery in colour, gradually they become 

 darker in hue. 



The exuviae or cast-skins form a kind of white 

 powder on the perches and in the nests, &c. 



Nocturnal Habits. 



Like many of these partial parasites, the Hen- 

 Mite is strictly nocturnal in habit; fortius reason 

 they are often unobserved. During the daytime 

 the Dermanyssus hides away in crevices in the walls, 

 ceilings, nests, and perches ; as soon as it becomes 

 dark, they leave their retreats and pass to the 



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