EXTERNAL PARASITES 53 



lice and chiggers disappeared from the flock, al- 

 though, the chickens in this flock had been troubled 

 by these parasites, more or less, during the three 

 years preceding. Although fleas irritate the skin 

 and suck blood, no noticeable effect on these birds 

 was noted by the owner. Perhaps, because it 

 being summer, the birds were largely out doors 

 and under favorable conditions as to health. 

 Symptoms similar to those produced by lice have 

 been recorded in other cases. ' 



Treatment: Eradication. — Dipping the hens in 

 any of the following solutions, five per cent creo- 

 lin, five per cent kreso dip, or five per cent zeno- 

 leum, is effective in ridding the birds of fleas and 

 preventing their reinfestation for a short time. 

 A dusting powder, used as directed under the dis- 

 cussion of lice, may also be employed with suc- 

 cess. Do not neglect to stop reinfestation by 

 treating the premises the same as directed for 

 lice. (See page 40.) 



TICK INFESTATION 



The chicken tick is the Argas miniatus. It is 

 not common in the United States, although it does 

 occur in some of the southern states and in Mex- 

 ico. 



Argas Miniatus 



Description. — The body is flat and thin. It has an over- 

 reaching dorsal surface that hides the mouth parts. The 

 mouth parts are provided with mandibles, which have hook- 

 like denticles at the free extremity and a hypostome provided 

 with six rows of irregularly-arranged, toothlike denticles. 

 With this apparatus it holds on to its host. By the side of 

 this apparatus there is, on either side, a palpus, an articulated, 

 flngerlike structure taking the place of antennae as found in 

 the Insect parasites. This tick is a blood sucker, The en- 

 gorged female is nearly one-half inch long. Fig. 16 is a 

 drawing of a full-grown female, taken from a hen in south- 

 ern Texas. 



