THE CHICKEN MITE. 11 
tected place for deposition and molting governs the hiding habits of 
the mite. This may be a crack in a board or only a rough place, or 
it may be in the dry manure or litter. Here a place for deposition, 
molting, mating, and resting is provided. A very common hiding 
place for mites is near the nails that hold the roosts to their supports. 
When the mites become abundant they will overrun the roost and 
may be found anywhere in the chicken house. Their presence about 
a house may be detected by the minute black and white spots (excre- 
ment) left on the roosts. (See Plate I.) In the spring, when the 
weather becomes warm, mites come out of their hiding places in 
great numbers and, not having fed for perhaps a month, run about 
as tiny gray specks in ravenous haste seeking food. At this season 
the poultryman can tell easily whether his poultry or coops are 
infested with mites. A little later, in the case of light infestations, 
the mites may seem to disappear, but a careful search will show that 
they have had a feeding of blood and are hiding to reproduce. From 
now on they come out, perhaps only a few at a time, every night as 
long as the weather is sufficiently warm. It is important to clear 
away all manure and trash before trying to kill the mite by spraying 
with insecticides and to have a roost which may be removed easily, so 
that the underside may be sprayed. 
PASSING THE WINTER. 
For the mite the winter season is merely a time of lessened activity. 
During warm spells and in artificially heated houses the mite will 
feed if fowls are in reach. Since the mite may live at least four or 
five months, as shown by longevity experiments, there is no chance 
in the Southern States of cold weather lasting so long that the mite 
will starve from this cause. Low temperatures may kill the weaker 
individuals but do not destroy those with more vitality. 
ENEMIES. 
A small black ant (Monomorium minimum Buckley) has been seen 
to carry away recently- fed mites. Other species, notably the fire ant 
(Solenopsis geminata Fab.) , destroy many. Certain spiders also have 
been seen to attack and destroy mites. Whether or not ants and 
spiders are of much importance in this respect is not definitely 
known. The author has found, however, that some infestations 
which were not quite killed out by spraying seemed to be extermi- 
nated by natural enemies. 
DISPERSION. 
Mites may be spread in the following ways : 
(1) By infested fowls transferred to clean localities. 
(2) By the use of boxes and crates in which infested fowls have 
been kept. 
