CLASSIFICATION AND BABIT8 <>K TICKS. 
LONE STAB TICK, 
(Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus.) 
The lone star tick derives its name from the bright-silvery spot on 
the scutum 6f t ho female. It is widely distributed, having been 
reported from Labrador to Florida, and also from Guatemala and 
Brazil. After Margaropus annulatus, il is the most important tick 
in the United States. Though Pound more commonly on cattle we 
have taken it from man. horse, mule, dog, goat, bog, deer, squirrel, 
and wolf, and it appears to attack mammals generally. In portions 
o\' Louisiana and Texas it becomes a pest of considerable importance 
to moss gatherers and other persons who spend much time in the 
forests. It has been repeatedly taken in Texas during the summer of 
L906 on the clothes or attached to the body of agents of the Bureau. 
Packard mentions a case in which one buried itself in the arm of a 
young- girl, producing a raised tumor. 
In May it was found on a herd of dairy cows near Dallas in large 
numbers, though only an occasional specimen of Margaropus annu- 
hit us was present. The proprietor of the dairy stated that they were 
xvvx annoying through their attaching to milkers. Mr. J. D. Mitchell 
has found it in the vicinity of Kerrville and Llano, Tex., to be the 
most important species, being much more numerous than the fever 
tick. In that region the cattle suffer greatly from it. Its abundance 
seems to be due to the large numbers of sheep and goats kept in that 
section. These serve as hosts, spreading it broadcast, at the same 
time reducing the bunches of Margaropus annulatus seed ticks. 
T a 1 1 1 . i : XV. — Oviposition of Amblyomma americanum. 
Oviposition. 
Period of 
ovipo- 
sition. 
Dropping 
of ovi- 
position. 
Number 
of eggs 
depos- 
ited. 
Collected 
From 
To— 
M;i r. 2fi 
Apr. 5 
May 5 
May 13 
May 2.5 
May 27 
. .do.. . 
Apr. 20 
May 18 
May 21 
June 5 
June 7 
June 6 
June 9 
Juno 5 
June 10 
June i 
Days. 
16 
14 
9 
12 
12 
11 
14 
10 
,.-> 
12 
Days. 
26 
22 
20 
22 
20 
19 
22 
18 
23 
20 
Apr. 27 
2,444 
Ma\ 2 
984 
May 15 
5 040 
Mav 19 
Do 
' 2,659 
1 . 73 i 
Do 
do . . 
Do 
do . 
950 
Do 
do 
1,510 
Do 
do 
1,306 
Total 
107 
12. 5 
■'"'2L2' 
19, 137 
Average 
2. 126 
Our records regarding oviposition, as shown in the above table, are 
from 10 engorged ticks. It will be seen that the maximum number 
of eggs deposited by an individual was 5,040, deposition continuing 
for 12 days; the minimum, 950, with a deposition period of 10 days; 
an average of 2,126 eggs deposited in 12 days. Morgan records as 
many as 6,519 eggs. 
