The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

IOw-Nay BE Starved Out.
An Intimate knowledge of the nfe his
to-y OF the cattle tick Is necessary 70
those VINO have the pest 10 contend with
IN order that they may wage their battle
more inteIHgently and at the same time
secure better and greater results. 4
knowledge OF the manner in which the
tick propagates cannot fail ID be OF vaius
ia the war Of determination now being
carried on against II in the South.
Only a part of the development OF the
uek takes place on the host (animaD.
while the remainder occures in the pas.
ture- The female tick. which IS attach
Cd 20 the skin Of the host. Increases.
enormously in size as a result OF draw
Ing liberal quantities OF blood. and when
fully engorged drops 10 the ground,
where she az once begins 70 search for
6 suitable hiding place that VIII serve
as q protection from sun and enemies.
The female ticks may be devoured By,
birds, destroyed by ants. or may perish
as the result OF unfavorabIs conditions,
such as low temperature or lack OF uois-
ture. so that many may De destroyed
without having laid eggs
Lays Eggs All Year.
Egg-lsying begins during the spring,
summer and fail months. n 10 % days.
and during the winter months In Is %
IS days. The eggs are small. euiptical-
shaped bodies. Of a Eght amber color.
that later changes % dark brown. one.
nft.eth OF an inch IN length. coated vita.
a sticky secretion that causes them To-
adhere IN clusters and keeps them from
drying out
During the egg-laying the tick Sraau-.
ally shrinks 20 about one-third or one
fourth her former size The eggIayiae-
period continues from four DAYS in ths
summer 10 I51 DAYS beginning "a the fall
and during this period from several hun-i
Cred 20 900 eggs may be deposited. The.
mother tick then dies within few days.
In nineteen days Gin sHmme-) 20 1SS days.
lin fan or winter after the eggs have BEEN
deposited they begin 70 hatch Prom
each one issues Q small. oval slX-leggel
seed tick, az first amber cOlored. iate-l
I changing 20 a rich brown. After crawling
slowly out OF the shell L usually remains
QIiescelt FOR several days. then q dis
plays grest activity. especially II tia.
weather Is warm. and ascends the near
est biz OF vegetation. such as grass,
herbs. OF shrubs
Appear in One Spot.
Since each female lays her eggs al oua
/ spot. thousands OF newly hatched ticks,
or larvae win appear at the same place
and later VIII ascend nearby grass stems
and collect on the blades. This accounts
Cor the brown masses OF larvae observed
clinging 70 vegetation n pastures or on
fence posts This upward instinctfof TIE
ticks Increases their chances OF reach
ing a host. FOR When the vegetation IS
disturbed they become very active. ex-
tending their long legs upward IN an
attempt 70 seize hold OF a host
During its life IN the pasture the seed
tick takes no food and hence does not.
Increase IN size. ana unless Il reaches a
host II dies Of starvation This fact "a
significant and IS taken advantage OF "A
the work Of exteruinating the ticks
Their endurance, however. IS great. and.
under certain conditions they have been.
found 70 live without nourishment near
ly eight months during che colder part
Of the year.
Life Period OF the, Tick.
Tke length OF the period from the tins
females drop until all the seed tsol-s,
Matching from the eggs laid bye4he-n are,
dead. OF IN other words. the tine 70
quired for pastures 70 become free or
ticks after AL cattle. horses and mules
have been excluded. varies with the sea-
son OF the year, beng shortest durtrr;
the warm part OF the year. and longest
during the cold part OF the year. For
example, al the seed ticks resulting from
females dropped June Is VIII Be dead BY
November I. a period OF four and one-i
half months; but some OF those resulting
from females dropped September I may
survive until the following July, a perfect
OF ten months
Another phase Of Development bsgins
when the tick reaches a fGvorabie host.
such as a COW. II usually attaches itself
20 the skin OF the escutcheon. the fnsids
OF the thighs and tanks. or 10 the dew
lap. Z az once begins 20 draw blood
and Increases IN size IN few days g
changes from brown % white In fvs to-
twelve Gays it sheds It's skin. the new form
having eight instead % six legs and
being known ss a nymph.
Natures fn short Time.
In another five 20 eleven days. after tia,
first molt. the nymph sheds its.skin and
becomes sexualiy mature. and Il Is at this
stage that males and females are consplc-
uous for the first time. TIE male energss.
as brown oval tick about oae-tenth OF.
an inch in length Having reached the
full measure OF his growth he displays
greater activity IN moving about on tha
host. The female Is slightly larger but.
shows much less activity. seldom moving
Ear from her point Of attachment pre-
vious 70 m0lting- After mating she IN
creases rapidly IN size and IN twenty-ona
days Gin hot weather. TO sixty-six dayss(lr
cold weather.. after attaching as a seed
tick. she becomes fully engnrged and drops
10 the ground TO repeat the cycle OF devel-,
opment
Publications containing fun information
about ticks and giving directions FOR get.
ting rio Of them may be obtained free on.
application &C the BUsuau Of Animal IN
dustry. Department OF Agriculture,
Washington y. Q A p NETVfS