48 PARASITOLOGY. 
Synonyms.—Chigger ; mite; harvest bug; red mite. 
History—Found in Europe and America. 
Description—This parasite is just visible to the 
unaided eye. The body is oval in shape and reddish 
in color; the legs are provided with six articles 
each, the terminal end of the last segment being fur- 
nished with two hooklets anda hair; the piercing 
apparatus is conical in shape and on either side is 
found a palpus; the legs are located on the anterior 
half of the body. 
Lite Cycle.—The eggs are laid in the cracks and 
crevices and in the filth of hen houses, where they 
hatch, the egg first hatching into the six-legged mite, 
which moults and develops into the eight-legged 
state. 
Animal Infested —They infest the cuticular surface 
of birds and small animals, and pierce the skin and 
suck the blood, producing great irritation, which may 
cause death. They may become parasites of large 
animals if the infested birds roost in quarters adja- 
cent to or within the stable. 
Treatment—Same as for Dermanyssus. One inch 
air slaked lime in bottom of nests. Dip hens in 1% 
creolin. 
Leptus IRRITANS (Leptus—thin, small; irrito—to irritate.) 
Synonym.—Chigger. 
ffistory —Found in the grass and timber during 
the hot part of summer. 
Description.—Always in the larval form; the body 
is nearly round; the head is broad and is provided 
with piercing mandibles. Itis bright red in color. 
Animals Infested.—The parasite is brushed from 
