UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 553 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 

 L. O. HOWARD, Chief 



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Washington, D. C. 



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August 10, 1917 



THE CHICKEN MITE: 1 ITS LIFE HISTORY AND 



HABITS. 



By H. P. Wood, Entomological Assistant, Insects Affecting Health of Animals, 



Bureau of Entomology. 



Rearing methods used in life-history experi- 

 ments 1 



Life history 2 



Life-cycle experiments 4 



Discussion of results of life-cycle experiments . 7 



Longevity 8 



Feeding and hiding habits of mites 9 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Passing the winter 



Enemies 



Dispersion 



Other hosts 



Food other than blood 



Conditions favorable for propagation of mites 

 Summary of life history 



Page. 

 11 

 11 

 11 

 12 

 12 

 13 

 13 



In the present bulletin no attempt has been made to give an exhaus- 

 tive study of the life history of the chicken mite ; rather the aim has 

 been to work out the main points in the life cycle of this pest and to 

 discover principles upon which combative 2 measures may be based." 



REARING METHODS USED IN LIFE-HISTORY EXPERIMENTS. 



The method of feeding the mites was simple. A large earthen jar, 

 in which a small roost was put, was utilized for a breeding cage. The 

 jar was set in a pan of water in order to prevent the escape of the 

 mites, and a coarse-mesh wire screen was fastened over the top to 

 hold the chicken in the jar. When it was desired to feed the mites 

 they were either dropped in the bottom of the jar or else put on the 

 fowl's back. Easy access was thus obtained to the host, and seldom if 

 ever were hungry mites seen in the jar after being one night with the 

 chicken. Sheets of paper were put in the bottom of the jar to collect 

 the manure and some of the mites. Most of the fed mites were found 

 about the roost in cracks prepared for them. 



1 Dermanyssus gallinae Redi. 



2 See Farmer's Bulletin No. 801, United States Department of Agriculture. 



3 To Mr. F. C. Bishopp the writer wishes to express appreciation for direction and 

 helpful suggestions obtained in the course of the work. 



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