376 PESTS OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS 
Control is based on keeping cattle out of tick-infested pastures long 
enough to starve out all the seed ticks. The latter do not go in search 
of a host, but wait for it to come. Luckily this scheme works in well 
with various desirable crop rotations. 
In the case of range animals, dipping or spraying to kill the ticks 
on the animal is resorted to. 
The Sheep Tick (Melophagus ovinus Linn.) 
Degenerate, reddish or brownish, flattened insects, one fourth of an 
inch long or less, suck the blood of sheep and lambs. They are especially 
injurious to the latter. The pest is most- 
numerous in the spring months. The 
entire life round is spent on the sheep. 
= While this species belongs in the order 
| of flies, the adults are entirely wingless. 
¥ Bice Sheep should be dipped after shearing. 
Various substances are on the market for 
4| this purpose. Or, one of the commercial 
as. Gide ehancanaes tobacco extracts may be used, following 
Enlarged and natural size, the instructions printed on the container 
Original. in which the material is sold. 
The Sheep Scab-mite (Psoroptes communis Furst, var. ovis) 
Small, sucking mites breed in large numbers under scales or crusts 
formed on the skin of sheep. There is violent itching, and the 
wool looks rough and ragged, often sticking together in places, 
or falling entirely out. Attack is usually confined to the neck, back, 
and rump, the under parts being more or less free of the mites. 
The mites are exceedingly small, and swarm around the edges of the 
scabs. 
Dipping of infested animals is the only thorough remedy. The 
same materials are used as in dipping for the sheep tick, the one dip 
serving to kill both insects. 
