180 
Biology of Dermacentor 
Dermacentor nigrolineatus 1 Packard. 
Distribution. (Fig. 1.) 
Comparatively little is known regarding the distribution of this 
species. The type is from the Adirondack Mountains in New York. 
Banks 2 states that specimens are in the New York State collection 
which probably came from the Adirondack Mountains; he also records 
the species from the Catskill Mountains in New York and from Vilas 
County, Wisconsin. Stiles 8 mentions a collection from Davidson county, 
Tennessee, and another from a host which came from Oklahoma. 
During the recent investigations of the Bureau of Entomology several 
specimens have been obtained from Laredo, Texas, a few from Kerrville, 
Texas, and many in all stages of development from Lake, Fentress 
County, Tennessee. The elevation of these localities ranges from 438 
to 1700 feet. In each section there is a considerable area of hilly 
country and some woods or shrubbery. 
Hosts. 
The type specimens were taken from deer and most of the other 
collections have come from that host. Stiles 4 records females and 
nymphs from horses. A collection, which contained both males and 
females, was made by Mr Rumsey at Laredo, Texas, on deer ( Odocoileus 
virginianus texanus), and two lots have since been taken on the same 
host by the late F. C. Pratt, at Kerrville, Texas. One of these contained 
two well engorged nymphs 5 and the other a single female (-^ en¬ 
gorged). We have collected all stages on cattle at Lake, Tennessee, 
and have reared the species experimentally on that host. A few tests 
of the guinea-pig as a host were unsuccessful. Adults attached them¬ 
selves to tame rabbits and fed, but none of them became engorged, 
the females probably being scratched off. A slightly engorged female 
placed in the ear of a dog became attached, but later disappeared. 
1 The “ red-brown winter tick ” is suggested as a common name for this species on 
account of its colour and habit of feeding largely during the winter season. 
2 “A revision of the Ixodoidea of the United States.” Bur. of Ent., U.S. Dept. Agr., 
Tech. Ser., 1908, Bull. 15, p. 49. 
s “ The taxonomic value of the microscopic structure of the stigmal plates in the tick 
genus Dermacentor.'” Pub. Health and Mar. Hosp. Service, Hygienic Lab., 1910, Bull. 62, 
pp. 54, 55. 
4 See reference cited in preceding paragraph. 
6 This material was considered to be D. nitens by Hooker, Bishopp and Wood (Bur. of 
Ent., U.S. Dept. Agr., 1912, Bull. 106, p. 198). Becent studies of the immature stages 
show this to be an error. 
