ACAEI OF LAKE IJEMI. 407 



ACAEI. 



By Albeet D. Michael, P.L.S., E.E.M.S. 



(Plate 27.) 



Among the specimens collected by Mr. H. T. Giinther the 

 following three species of Acari have been identified : — 

 AsTOMA GKTLLAKIA, le Baron. 



This species, common in the Urmi district, was found attached 

 near the bases of the wings of Calopfenus italicus, L., in July. 

 The genus Asloma cannot be considered a good one, being f onnded 

 entirely upon a larval type. The adult form would cert:dQly be 

 one of the TrombidiidaB. Tromhidium sericeum Jocustarum was 

 described as the adult form by Riley, but as the Astoma gryllaria 

 larva is totally different from the larva of T. sericeum, this iden- 

 tification seems doubtful. Eiley considered the larva very 

 destructive to locusts and consequently beneScial to man, and 

 brought it into notice in a series of articles (" The Locust in 

 187G," JSTew York Tribune, Aug. 16, 1876; " Eochy-Mountain 

 Locust," Apfjletou's Amer. Cyclop. 1875, pp. 371-374 ; and 

 " Mite Transfurmations," Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis, vol. iii. 

 Proc. p. 267). 



EnTPiCEPnALUS simts, C. L. Kocl ; or sanguikeus, Latr. 

 These are practically world-wide species ;. dogs and other 

 animals carry them everywhere, and they will attach themselves 

 to almost any creature which has blood to suck. 



The Persian specimens were all found upon the hind legs and 

 tails of the Testudo ibera, in situations in which they are free 

 from the risk of being rubbed off. All the older tortoises at Seir 

 carried three or four of these bloodsuckers. 

 Argas -Peesicus, Fischer. 

 Sab. Seir Hill. 



This species I regard as synonymous with Argns reflexus of 

 Pabricius. I have obtained specimens which are indistinguishable 

 from A. rejiexus from all quarters of the globe ; they are probably 

 transported by pigeons and other birds. In a hot country the 

 bite of this tick is believed occasionally to produce fever, 

 madness, and even death {cf. p. 366). Mr. Giiuther found one 

 specimen upon a tortoise. 



A bright orange-coloured species of Acarid was in two 

 instances found attached to the nape of the neck of a species of 

 Machilis (PI. 27. fig. 4). 



