106 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



Merriam, 2; Rocky Mountain Pika, Lagoinys princcps Richardson, 



4 



Besides the mammals above Hsted, several others were shot 



during the last day and were lost from the wagon while we were 



coming down over the rocky road of the canyon. Among these 



was one pika which we had observed, in picking it up, had ticks upon 



it. This should be added to those mentioned below. 



Of the twelve chipmunks two had ticks of a species which we 

 believe to be the same that we reared in the insectary. All of the 

 five Rocky Mountain pikas had ticks. 



It was noticeable that though we shot more red squirrels than 

 any other animlal, we found no ticks upon them, and though chip- 

 munks were very abundant in the immediate vicinity of the series 

 of rock slides where we secured the pikas, those obtained at this 

 place were in every instance free from ticks, though the pikas had 

 them in ever}^ case. 



The ticks secured were in the larval and nymphal stages. 

 Those from the chipmunks were all larvae, while those from the 

 pikas were in both stages, even on the same animal. They were in 

 aW stages of engorgement except that none were fully fed. 



We preserved the ticks alive as far as possible, and brought 

 them to Bozeman, and on the morning following our arrival endeav- 

 ored with great care to get them to attach to guinea pigs. A very 

 few of them attached, but on the following morning those that had 

 been attached were found in the pans beneath the cages, dead. 



All of the ticks found on the chipniiunks and pikas were at- 

 tached in or very close to the ears. 



SUMMARY. 



Summarizing the foregoing, the following are indicated: 



1. The larval tick does not care to feed until about a week 

 after hatching. 



2. The larvae remained attached to the host for about four 

 days. 



3. Unfed larval ticks kept in a stender dish for several weeks 

 showed a marked tendency to gather in clusters or balls. 



4. These unfed larvae died aftei- nearly six weeks of fasting. 



