F-506694 
FIGURE 1.—Galls of the maple 
bladder-gall mite, Vasates quad- 
ripedes, on leaf of maple. 
pine bud mite, Phytoptus pini Nal.—causes the yellowing and 
dropping of pine needles. Aceria phloceoptes (Nal.)—deforms 
fruit spurs and produces woody galls on plum. Nalepella tsugi- 
foliae Keifer—has been reported damaging hemlock in nurseries 
in New York. Trisetaceus cupressi (K.)—attacks southern red 
cedars, causing distortion and deformation of young trees. 
Mites of the family Sarcoptidae are skin parasites of warm 
blooded animals. The itch mite, Sarcoptes scabet (DeG.), is a well- 
known species. It attacks man and causes severe itching as it bur- 
rows into the skin. 
The family Trombiculidae contains the notorious red bugs or 
chiggers. The common chigger in eastern United States is the first 
instar larva of the species, Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Ouder- 
mans). In its later stages, it feeds on other insects, snakes, birds, 
lizards, and rodents. When it attaches itself to the skin of man 
and insects, it inserts its mouth parts to feed, causing intense 
itching and sores. Heavy attacks may cause fever, and secondary 
infections may occur. Chiggers are often abundant in the forests 
of the Central and Southern States and along the Atlantic Sea- 
board north to New Jersey. 
Many other species of mites occur in association with bark 
beetles,? and some are known to be parasitic. So far, very little 
information is available on their effectiveness in natural con- 
trol of the beetles. In some instances, it may be substantial. 
TICKS.—Ticks are all parasitic, chiefly on mammals, birds and 
reptiles. All American species have a number of features in com- 
mon, such as large size, a piercing hypostome with recurved teeth, 
and chelicera with lateral teeth on the movable digits. Some ticks 
are mostly covered by a hard dorsal plate called the scutum; in 
others this hard plate is absent. 
* Unpublished manuscript by J. C. Moser and L. M. Roton. Mites asso- 
ciated with southern pine bark beetles in Allen Parish, La. 
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