THE ACAEIXA OR MITES. 



133 



C. gallinse Raillet, occurs at the base of the feathers, where it burrows and produces 

 a mass of loosened scales. The itcliing induces the hens to pluck their feathers. 

 Sulphur ointment and balsam of Peru are good remedies. 



Family CYTOLEICHID^. 



This family (" Sarcoptides cysticoles " of Megiiin) contains but two or three species. 

 Cytoleichus (formerly Cytodotes) nudus (fig. 275) and Laminosioptes (often Symplectop- 

 tes) cysticola (fig. 276) are of economic importance. They were discovered and de- 

 scribed in 1870 by Francesco Vizioli in the common fowl. Both are ver\^ small, soft- 

 bodied mites, much like a Sarcoptes, but differing in having the vulva longitudinal 

 and smaller and less prominent mouth parts. The legs are very short, the anterior 

 pairs the larger, and all separate at base. The tarsus ends in a long sucker, but without 

 claws. Laminosioptes sometimes occurs on the skin, but often bores into the subcuta- 

 neous tissue, where it gives rise to a calcareous cyst. Cytohichus has been found in 



Fig. 275.— Cytoleichus nudus. 

 illustration.) 



(Author's 



Fig. 276.— Laminosioptes cysti- 

 cola. (Author's illustration.) 



various parts of the common fowl, but most commonly in the air passages and air cells. 

 Here its presence in great numbers may produce asphyxia in the host. It has also 

 been suspected of producing peritonitis and enteritis, but AMlcox has shown its 

 presence in perfectly healthy fowls, so that it is not certain that the mite necessarily 

 produces any disease. The mites are probably taken up by the fowl with its food. 

 Although apparently clumsy, the mite is exceedingly active, and can penetrate most 

 of the tissues of the body. It is \'iviparous, and the young at birth have six legs. 

 They also occur on most of the birds related to or associated with poultry. Both 

 species have been taken in this country, but Cytoleichus is the more common. Sprink- 

 ling coal oil or naphthalene about the poultry house has been suggested as a remedy. 

 C. nudus Vizioli has been found abundantly in turkeys; another species, C. banksi 

 Wellman, has recently been described from squirrels in California. Laminosioptes 

 has strong chelate mandibles; those of Cytoleichus are small and weak, and barely 

 chelate. Laminosioptes has the body plainly divided, while Cytoleichus has the body 

 entire, and there is a stout, erect spine on the last joint of the second pair of legs. 



