HARVEST MITES. 



^35 



CASE It is more elongate, more smoky and dusty in colour ; and the 

 hairs on its body are of a finer and more slender type. 



No. 17. Trombidium bicolor {Hcrm., Mem. Apt.). — 17. Magnified figure of ditto, 

 copied from Hermann's Memoire. 



Very like fulginosum in form, but colour of body black with a 

 bluish reflection, and legs scarlet. 



Nos. Trombidium fasciculatum. — 18. Enlarged figure of ditto ; 19. Specimens 

 '^•'9. of ditto (4). 



This species, which is a giant 

 among its brethren (being about 

 one-third of an inch in length), is 

 common in the East Indies and 

 East Indian Archipelago. It is 

 bright red when fresh, and deeper in 

 parts, but soon fades, especially if 

 it has been in spirits. It is tufty 

 with velvety reflections. 



Trombidium fasciculatum, magnified and 

 natural size (small specimen). 



Nos. Trombidium tinctorium [Fab.). — 20. Enlarged figure of ditto; 21. Spe- 

 ^» ^^' cimens of ditto (o). 



From the West Coast of Africa, of 

 the same size and appearance as the 

 East Indian species. Kirby and Spence 

 say (on we know not what authority) 

 that this species, or some allied species, 

 (they call it " a species of mite (Trom- 

 bidium tinctorium) from Guinea and 

 Surinam") is employed as a dye; and 

 they suggest that it might be worth 

 while to try whether our own T. holo- 

 sericeum would not also aflbrd a valuable tincture. We are sceptical 



Trombidium tinctorium. Nearly as 

 large as the preceding. 



