THE HARVEST-BUG. 473 



the time of hatching is • much longer. When the 

 young ones first come forth they are extremely mi- 

 nute, and before they attain their full size they cast 

 their skin several times. 



The mites are very quick-sighted ; and when once 

 they have been touched with a pin, it is easy to per- 

 ceive a great degree of cunning exerted to avoid a 

 second touch. They are extremely voracious animals, 

 and are often observed even to devour each other : 

 and so very tenacious are they of life that they have 

 been kept alive many months between two concave 

 glasses, by which they were applied to a microscope. 

 Leeuwenhoek placed a female mite on the point of 

 a pin for examination : she remained there ten days, 

 and during the time laid two eggs; which, for 

 want of other food she devoured. 



THE HARVEST-BUG*. 



The Harvest-bug is of a somewhat globular shape, 

 and of a bright red colour, with the abdomen bristly 

 behind. It is smaller than the common mite, and 

 by its colour but just to be perceived when on the 

 skin. In the months of August and September it is 

 very troublesome, adhering to the skin by means of 

 two short arms situated above the upper legs, so 

 firmly as not easily to be disengaged. Wherever it 

 fixes it causes a tumour about the size of a pea, or. 

 larger, accompanied by a most unpleasant itching. 



* Synonyms. — Acarus autumnalis. Autumnal Acarus, or Harvest- 

 Bug.— ShavSs. Nat. Mis. 



