466 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1898. 
—as in the species mentioned—a number of long bristles that are themselves ciliated. 
These each arise from rounded tubercular swellings, and are capable of being 
independently moved. ‘They correspond in position to those of 7’, siro, as described 
by Canestrini and others. ‘Those extending from the hind border may equal half the 
total length of the insect. In addition to the four dorsal and eight marginal ones 
near the posterior contour of the abdomen—as seen from above—there are two central 
ones shorter than the others. The two that extend forwards from the front of the 
cephalothorax reach the extremity of the mandibles, and the four that are placed in 
a backwardly curved transverse line in front of the second pair of legs are of unequal 
length, the two central ones extending forwards to the tip of the rostrum or even 
beyond it. In the male the tarsal joint of the fourth pair of legs has two small 
cushion-like projections on its outer surface at about one-third and two-thirds of its 
length, between which thisis concave. In addition, there exist the usual sexual 
distinctions. The legs of the first and second pairs are of equal length, and those of 
the fourth pair are the longest; their relative length in the male being expressed by 
the numbers 37, 37, 39, 43. The following tabulation, showing the length of the tarsi 
and of the third and fourth joints of the first and fourth pairs of legs, will serve to 
readily distinguish this Tyroglyphus from either 7. siro or 7. longior :— 
Male. Female. 
(a) (0) 
Length of tarsus Ist pair... 14 15 at 26 
“ joints 8 and 4 ii re IRE ak} Ppt 25 
rH tarsus 4th pair... 1) ali rer 35 
33 joints 3 and 4 my te 18} 1183 Rs 30 
“The female closely resembles the male, but is of larger size. 
The male has a length of 230 p to 287 p, and a breadth of 115 p. to 137 p; the 
female a length of 562 » and a breadth of 275 p. 
4. A large mite that is abundantly distinct from any of the foregoing, that 
belongs to the family Gamaside. "This evidently feeds on its associates. 
Unfortunately, it is of uncommon occurrence in the fruitlets. 
REMEDIES. 
As the Tarsonemus Mites occur throughout the entire pineapple plant, 
and as when once connected with it the association between the two is 
perennial, plants that it may be inferred from the condition of their fruit 
are infested, should be gradually rooted out and burnt, otherwise they may 
become more and more “ diseased.” In replacing these, or indeed in starting 
a new plot or establishing a plantation, suckers derived exclusively from plants 
in which this malady has not previously been remarked should be employed. 
As an additional precaution also they should be steeped in a lime-and-sulphur 
wash for some hours prior to being placed in the soil, or treated with a carbolic- 
acid wash—such as may be made with Little’s soluble Phenyl—in the same 
manner. 
The lime-and-sulphur wash may be prepared as follows:—Boil water in a 
copper; take of good lime and powdered sulphur equal weights; pound the 
former; mix the two in a little water to the consistency of a cream; then pour 
this cream-like mixture into the water, whilst this is being maintained in a 
constant state of ebullition ; continue boiling till the lime and sulphur amal- 
gamate and an orange-coloured solution is produced. In making this the exact 
amount of boiling water is a matter of indifference, but this should not exceed 
ten gallons. 
The degree of subsequent dilution (with warm water) to be made, will, 
however, depend of course on the amount of water used in the first instance, but 
the maximum of strength that the plant will tolerate should be employed, since 
mites do not readily succumb to the action of insecticides. Experiments to 
test this have, however, yet to be made. So also with regard to the carbolic- 
acid wash. Possibly, as has been suggested to the writer, on his conclusions 
as to the nature and origin of the disease being made known, some benefit may 
also be derived from dusting affected plants with sulphur. 
