POISONOUS INSECTS AND THEIR RELATIVES 409 



opportunity is offered, and inflicting painful wounds. 

 They are reported so numerous in some villages that 

 the inhabitants are forced to leave. We have two closely 

 related species in this country, one of which is the common 

 chicken tick of the Southwest, Argas miniatus (Plate VII). 



The solpugids (Fig. 140) are spider-like animals, only a 

 few species of which occur in this country. They are 

 found in the southern and western portions of the United 

 States, but are rarely seen, 

 probably because they are 

 chiefly nocturnal. They rest 

 quietly during the day safely 

 hidden beneath stones or 

 sticks or in holes in the 

 ground, but come forth at 

 dusk to resume their activi- 

 ties. Seme species, however, 

 are active during the day. 

 They are very agile creatures, 

 for they can run swiftly in 

 pursuit of their prey and one 

 species, at least, is an expert 

 tree climber. 



There has been consider- 

 able controversy regarding the poisonous character of 

 these animals. The people of Baku in southern Russia 

 along the Caspian Sea look upon them as exceedingly 

 dangerous ; but no poison glands have ever been found 

 in the Solpugids and several investigators have allowed 

 themselves to be bitten by them without marked results. 

 It seems quite safe to say that none of the species found 

 in the United States are dangerous. 



FIG. 140. A solpugid. 



