52 



allow the pipets to stand diagonally inside 1000-ml beakers and the 

 tips were sealed with clay. 



Desiccators were fashioned from 1000-ml beakers. Salt solutions 



of 4 g of NaCl and 10 ml of water were added to the beakers to maintain 



» 



the relative humidity at approximately 80%. Dry 10-ml beakers were 

 placed inside the 1000-ml beakers to receive the pipet tips and keep 

 them out of the salt solutions. Once the sealed pipets were inside, 

 desiccators were covered with two layers of saran secured with a rubber 

 band. Desiccators were placed in the growth chamber at 29-4 C. 

 Mortality was recorded 2k hr later with complete cessation of movement 

 the criterion for death. 



One pipet containing 15 gravid female mites served as a replica- 

 tion. Each treatment was replicated four times. Control mortality 

 averaged 11.26? and was never higher than 16.39?. 



Field Tr ial s 

 Rotovat ion 



Rotovation is a term coined by poultrymen in the Tampa, Florida, 

 area to describe a method of mechanically stirring manure in poultry 

 houses to keep it dry and unattractive to flies. Manure is composted 

 in place and can be used for fertilizer without further treatment. 



The tilling unit, made by Selpats Manufacturing, Inc., P. 0. Box 



TM 

 1^9, Palatka, Florida, 32077, is officially called the Dryovator . 



The tiller is operated by the power take-off of a modified Kuboda L 1 75 



diesel tractor. Tractor and tiller are shown in Figure 1. 



The act of rotovating is termed rototilling or more frequently, 



just tilling. Tilling was accomplished by driving the tractor down 



the walkway of a poultry house and pulling the tiller through the 



