TROPICAL FOWL MITE 1 IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH NOTES ON 

 LIFE HISTORY AND CONTROL. 



TWO RECORDS of infestations of the tropical fowl mite (Li- 

 pony ssus bursa Berlese) on poultry in the United States thus 

 far have been reported, one at Beltsville, Mel., and the other at Ray- 

 mond, 111. In both of these instances the infestations proved rather 

 serious and there seems to be no reason why, once established, this 

 mite should not prove to be as serious a menace to the poultry in- 

 dustry as is the roost mite, and possibly more so. It is urged that 

 any occurrence be promptly reported to the Bureau of Entomology 

 so that immediate measures may be applied to stamp it out. 



HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES. 



The first occurrence of the tropical fowl mite in this country was 

 reported from Beltsville, Md., April 2, 1917. After this, on January 

 24, 1919, the mite was reported from Raymond, 111. In neither case 

 can the source of the infestation be found. The author, in April 

 and May, 1919, went to Raymond and made as thorough an investi- 

 gation as could be made in the time allotted. Some of the life his- 

 tory was worked out and measures of control applied. The mite in 

 question was found located on a rather isolated farm and none of 

 the poultry of the nearest neighbor was found to be infested. The 

 nearest adjoining farm was about 200 yards away, and there were 

 no others nearer than one-half mile. The infestation here was first 

 discovered in the fall of 1918. The origin of the infestation could 

 not be definitely determined. 



At Beltsville the infestation, according to information obtained 

 by Mr. R. W. TTells from Mr. Harry Lamon, of the United States 

 Bureau of Animal Industry, was first noticed on some male birds just 

 after they were removed from their colony houses to winter quarters. 

 This was in the fall of 1916. In the following season the mite was 

 apparently eradicated in that locality, the work being carried out 

 under the supervision of Mr. Lamon. Just how this infestation 

 was obtained is also unknown. 



HISTORY OF THE TROPICAL FOWL MITE IN ITS NATIVE HABITAT. 



We are indebted to Stanley Hirst, of the British Museum of 

 Natural History, for most of the knowledge of this species. He re- 



1 Stanley Hirst, of the British Museum, who has examined the material from Raymond, 

 111., states that the species is " apparently a slight variety of Liponyssus bursa Berlese." 

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