348 CRUSTACEA AND ARACHNIDA 



possible that it occurs also in New Zealand, but it has not yet been 

 actually recorded. 



H. bispinosa, previously recorded as H. punctata, Koch, has been 

 found in New Zealand on horses, cattle, and casually on sheep and 

 dogs. It only sucks the blood of its host, and is not credited with 

 being the carrier of any disease. 



Family Gamasid^ 



Dermanyssus gallince, De Geer 



This is a common and very injurious mite which is present in all 

 but exceptionally clean poultry houses. It lives in concealment during 

 the daytime, in the straw of the nests, and the cracks and crevices 

 of the roosts, and comes out at night to attack the fowls. It is vwde- 

 spread in New Zealand. 



Family Tetranychid^ 

 Bryobia pratensis, Garm. Red Mite of Fruit growers 



In the report of the Agricultural Department for 1901 Blackmore 

 reports a Bryobia as found under the leaves of fruit trees, to which 

 it was causing great damage. In the report for 1909 it is stated to 

 be doing great damage to apple trees, especially in the North Island. 

 In the South Island it was found to be causing the death of various 

 species of Abies. 



In 1905 it was reported from such widely-separated localities as 

 Ormond, Palmerston North and the Lillburn Valley. It is generally 

 distributed throughout New Zealand. 



Family Eriophyid^ 

 Eriophyes {Phytopus) pyri, Paget. Pear Mite 



Reported in 1896 and 1897 as very common in the colony. It 

 appears in spring and early summer, and attacks foliage. In 1909 

 the Agricultural Department reported it as very prevalent, and doing 

 considerable damage on unsprayed trees. 



Generally distributed throughout New Zealand on pear trees. 



Family Uropodidje 



Uropoda vegetans, De Geer 



Mr W. W. Smith stated in 1901 that this parasitic mite had been 

 found on the following Lepidoptera, viz., Xanthorrhoe beata and 

 X. rosearia at Invercargill ; and on the following beetles — Tricho~ 

 sternus antarcticus, and a large carnivorous ground beetle at Ash- 

 burton ; Ulotna tenebrionoides, Lissotes reticulatus, Thoramus wakefieldi, 



