278 



ARACHNOIDEA, 



CASE troubled with swarms of either this or some other species of 



XIV. ^ 



Glyciphagus in their stores of sugar. These mites wander to the 

 hands of shopmen and those that handle the sugar, who suffer 

 considerable annoyance from their presence, which causes a tem- 

 porary inflammation or irritation known as the grocer's itch. 



No. i3. Glyciphagus cursor {Gerv., Ann. Sc. Nat. ; Acarus domesticus, De Geer). 

 18. Magnified sketch of ditto, copied from Gervais' figure. 



This species has been found by M. 

 Fumouze, in numbers, in a parcel of 

 Cantharides in company with species 

 of Tyroglyphi (entomophagus and 

 longior) ; Gervais found it among the 

 feathers of dead birds and in the 

 bodies of insects in collections. It 

 is also found on the earth and dust 

 of cellars, and especially in the 

 moulds which grow there. 



We have said above that the Acarus 

 domesticus of De Geer was different 

 from the Acarus domesticus of Ger- 

 vais, the latter being the same as 

 Tyroglyphus Siro. The former is considered by M. Fumouze 

 and Robin to belong either to this species or to Tyroglyphus 

 longior, but they give the preference to this or to some allied 

 form of Glyciphagus. Signer Moriggia (Atti. Acad. Sci. Torino 

 I. p. 449, 1867) mentions a case which would seem to support 

 their view, for none of the Tyroglyphi have been found parasitic, 

 although some of the Glyciphagi have. He figures a singular 

 horny excrescence of great length growing from the hand of a 

 lady, and containing in its cavities great quantities of what he 

 calls "Acarus domesticus." The excrescence was nearly eight 

 inches in length, tapering upwards from a wide base and curved 

 towards the wrist. 



Glyciphagus cursor. 



