The Animal Parasites of Man

by Harold Benjamin Fantham; Max Braun; J. W. W. Stephens; Fred. V. Theobald

Fig. 351.—The kedani mite. Enlarged. (After Tanaka.)

The orange-red mites, which we only know in their larval condition, measure 0·16 to 0·38 mm. in length by 0·10 to 0·24 mm. in breadth. They have leg-like palpi with three joints, hirsute bodies, and very hairy legs composed of five segments, terminating with three ungues.

Family. Tetranychidæ (Spinning Mites).

These have tracheæ and eyes; the palpi are composed of four segments, of which the last but one has a powerful claw. The legs have six segments with sucker discs between the claws.

[The red spiders or spinning mites (Tetranychi) are usually placed in the family Trombidiidæ.—F. V. T.]

Genus. Tetranychus, Dufour.

Tetranychus molestissimus, Weyenbergh, 1886.[334]

Found in Argentine and Uruguay on the under surface of the leaves of Xanthium macrocarpum; it attacks mammals and men, producing severe itching, accompanied by fever in the latter.