BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [126] 



however, disport in the hottest sunshine. Some genera are found 

 most frequently near water or in damp places, as Dolomedes and Te- 

 tragnatha ; others in sandy places, as Micaria, Targalia. 



COLLECTING OTHER ARACHNIDS: MITES, TICKS, SCORPIONS, ETC. 



Other Arachnids — as mites, ticks, scorpions, daddy longiegs or har- 

 vest-men — may be collected in the same way as spiders. 



The Phalangid?e (Harvest-men) somewhat resemble spiders, and are at 

 once recognized by their extremely long legs. They occur about houses, 



especially in shady places, under the eaves, 

 etc., and in the woods and fields. They are 

 carnivorous and feed on small insects, espe- 

 cially Aphides. They should be pressed a 

 little when captured to extrude the genital 

 apparatus, if possible, and are best collected 

 in the early fall. 



The Phrynidfe are very joeculiar looking 

 animals, the anterior legs being very long and 

 slender and the maxillary palpi very large. 

 The genus ThelyijJionus is not uncommon m 

 the South, and is known by its oblong body, 

 ending usually with a long, slender, many- 

 jointed filament, from which they are called 

 Whip -tailed Scorpions. T, giganteus is the 

 common species. They 

 occur in moist situa- 

 tions, and are carniv- 

 orous, feeding on insects and small animals. 



The false scorpions, Chermetidte, may at once 

 be recognized by their large maxillary palpi, 

 resembling the maxillse of the true scorpion. 

 They are small insects, rarely exceeding a quar- 

 ter of an inch in length, and are found m dark 

 shady places and feed upon mites, Psoci, and 

 other small insects. A common sj)ecies is rep- 

 resented at figure 132. 



The true scorpions, Scorpionidfe, are well- 

 known forms, and are easily recognized by their large, powerful, for- 

 ceps-like maxillse, and the long slender tail continuous with the thorax 

 and ending with a sting, which is, in most cases, quite i)oisonous. They 

 are found mostly in the Western and Southwestern States, and are dan- 

 gerous in proportion to their size. The poisonous nature of the sting 

 of these animals is, however, generally overrated, and the wounds, even 

 of the larger sxDCcies, are rarely fatal. 



The Acarina or true mites are the lowest representatives of the 

 Arachnida and include many genera and species ditiering very widely 



Fig. 131.— a Harvest-man {Phalan 

 giuni veiitricostini). — rrom Pack 

 aid. 



Fig. 132.— False Scorpion (Che- 

 lifer cancroides L.). — From 

 Packard. 



