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A CHAPTER ON MITES. 



By Wm. Saunders, London, Ontario. 



These tiny creatures, of which there are very many species, although not usually 

 regarded as true insects, are closely allied to them, and have been classed with them by 

 many authors. They have been inclucled in the order Aptera, or wingless insects, which 

 also embraces spiders, lice, etc. Small and apparently insignificant as these mites are, 

 some species are grievous pests, others invade articles of food, while some others are para- 

 sitic on larger insects, and often cause their death. So little is generally known in refer- 

 ence to the habits and life-history of these minute creatures, excepting to those few 

 naturalists who have paid especial attention to this subject, that it is hoped that a brief 

 sketch of the most notable of the species will prove an acceptable and interesting chapter 

 to most of our readers, and, at the same time, convey some useful information. A consider- 

 able portion of the material we shall present has been gleaned from the excellent work on 

 Aptera, by the late Andrew Murray, F.L.S., the first of a. series of works on Economic 

 Entomology designed to serve as hand-books to the South Kensington Museum ; a series 

 which he had undertaken, but which his life proved too short to permit him to complete. 

 The accompanying figures have also been chiefly obtained from the above work. These 

 have been engraved by Mr. P. J. Edmunds, of London, Ont., and are faithful representa- 

 tions of the original cuts. 



Mites vary very much in form, size and habits, but in their structure they have 

 always some points of resemblance to each other. While nearly related to the spiders, 

 mites never have the abdomen pedunculated, that is, joined to the body by a narrow point 

 of attachment, as is the case with spiders, but it is always in one piece, and united to the 

 last of the segments which bear the legs without any marked depression between them. 

 When mature, as a rule, they all have eight legs ; in some instances the hind pair is only 

 partially developed, but traces of them can almost always be discovered. In their earlier 

 immature stages mites have only six legs. 



The known species are very numerous, and are divided into eight different families. 



1. TROMBiDiiXyE, containing 



1. Tetranychi, spinning mites. 



2. Trombidiid^e, harvest mites 



2. Bdellid^e, snouted harvest mites. 



3. HYDRACHNiDiE, water mites. 



4. Gamasid^e, insect mite-parasites. 



5. Ixodid,e, ticks. 



6. Halacarid^e, marine mites. 



7. Oribatid^:, beetle mites. 



8. Acarid,e, including 



1. HypoderiDjE, subcutaneous mites 



2. Hypopid^e, ichneumon mites. 



3. Tyroglyphice, cheese mites. 



4. Sarcoptid^e, itch and louse mites. 



5. Phytoptid^s, gall mites. 



