POM miTCS 



how to control them 



Poultry mites retard the growth of poultry, 

 lower vitality, damage plumage, and reduce egg 

 production. Fowls heavily infested by mites 

 sometimes die. 



Mites reproduce rapidly, especially in summer, 

 when tremendous numbers may occur. They 

 are spread from yard to yard in infested crates 

 and coops, and by poultry and wild birds. Per- 

 sons who work with infested poultry may carry 

 mites on their clothing. 



Mites most commonly found on poultry are 

 the chicken mite (or roost mite),' the northern 

 fowl mite,- the scaly-leg mite,' the depluming 

 mite,' and chiggers."' The adult mites are 1/40 

 to 1/30 inch long. 



Several insecticides are used in controlling 

 poultry mites. They are used in dusts, sprays, 

 roost paints, dips, and ointments. A dust is 

 ready for use when purchased. A spray, roost 

 paint, or dip is made by mixing an emulsifiable 

 concentrate or wettable powder with water. 



Apply sprays with a small power sprayer or a 

 garden-type compressed-air sprayer. If you 

 apply a wettable-powder spray with a com- 

 pressed-air sprayer, agitate the liquid fre- 

 quently to keep the powder in suspension in the 

 spray mixture. . . . For treating small sur- 

 faces, such as a roost, use a paintbrush and a 

 can. . . . Use a rotary-type hand duster for 

 dusting an entire flock. 



The insecticide to use, its strength, and the 

 method of applying it depend on the kind of mite 

 to be controlled. 



Do not depend on an insecticide to do the 

 whole job. Eliminate hiding places by removing 

 loose boards and rubbish. Use roosts and nests 

 of the knock-down type: they are easy to clean 

 and easy to treat with an insecticide. Provide 

 good ventilation in the poultry house. 



CHICKEN MITE 



Chicken mites attach themselves to poultry 

 during the night and suck blood. During the 

 day they hide in cracks of poultry houses and 

 coops. Their excrement looks like a salt-and- 



pepper mixture. If you examine cracks, you 

 may see masses of mites, their eggs, and the 

 silvery skins cast by the immature mites. 



Females require a blood meal before laying 

 eggs. Under favorable conditions, eggs hatch 

 and mites mature in about 10 days. Several 

 generations a month are produced in the sum- 

 mer. In winter the mites develop more slowly, 

 and may be dormant in northern regions that 

 are exceptionally cold. 



In heavily infested coops, fowls have pale 

 combs and wattles. They become droopy and 

 weak and are more susceptible to other parasites 

 and to diseases. Some fowls die. 



Control 



Apply a 2.5-percent DDT spray or a 0.5- or 

 1-percent malathion spray to roosts, nests, and 

 inside wall surfaces. Pay particular attention 

 to cracks and rough spots. A second applica- 

 tion may be necessary in 10 to 14 days. 



Lindane at 1-percent strength or malathion 

 at 3-percent strength can be used as a roost 

 paint. One pint covers about 150 feet of roost. 

 The insecticide on the roosts kills mites crawl- 

 ing to the chickens, the fumes kill mites already 

 on the chickens. 



Treat poultry house floor litter with 4-percent 

 malathion dust if it is heavily infested with 

 mites. Apply 1 pound per 40 square feet of 

 litter surface. 



PREPARING A 0.5-PERCENT SPRAY 



1 Dermanyssua gallinae. 

 ■' Bdellonjiasus sulviaritm. 

 a Kncmidokoptex mutant*. 



' Knemidokoptes gallinae. 



'• KuVronibiruIti alfreddugesi. 





Amount of product to 



Purchased 



mix wi 



th water 



product 













With 5 gallons 



With 1 gallon 



Wettable powder : 







20-percent 



1 pound 1 ounce 



3 1 !- ounces 



25-percent. 



13 ounces 



2 '« ounces 



50-percent 



6% ounces 



1 J 3 ounces 



75-percent 



4 J 2 ounces 



1 ounce 



Emulsifiable con- 







centrate: 







20-percent 



2 cupfuls 



fi 1 - tablespoonfuls 



25-percent 



1 1 2 cupfuls 



5 tablespoonfuls 



50-percent_- 



3 .t cupful 



2Vz tablespoonfuls 



75-percent 



l A cupful 



1 j l> tablespoonfuls 



