The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-23
IdgE HISTORY OF CATTLE TICK.
Facts on Which the Campaign for
Eradicafing the Pest Is Based.


I'm intimate knowledge OF the life
history of the cattle tick is necessary
10 those who have the pest to con-
tend with In order that they may
wage their battle more inteHigently
and Mt tho same time secure better
and greater results. A knowledge OF
the manner In which the tick prope-
gates can not fail to be of value In
tho war of determination now being
carried on against II In the South.
Only q part OF the development of
the tick takes place en- the hest (sni-
mal). while the remainder occurs in
the pasture. The female tick. which
- attached to the skin Of the host.
lncreases enormously IN size as a re-
suit OF drawing liberal quantities of
blood. and w On fully engorged drops
to the 81, 4. where she at once be-
gins to search 70: suitable hlding
place that will serve as protection
from the sun and enemies. The fe-
male ticks may be devoured by birds.
destroyed by aunts. or may perish as
the result of unfavorable conditions,
sueh as. for example. low tempera-
ture, lack Of moisture. etc.. SD that
many may be destroyed without hav-
ing laid any eggs.
Egg-laying begins during the
spring. summer. and fall months In
two to 20 days and during the winter
months In Is to ss days. The eggs
are small. eiiipitical-shaped bodies. Of
q light amber color that later changes
to dark brown. ons-hftieth Of an inch
In length. coated with sticky secre-
tion that causes them to adhere In
clusters and keeps them from drying
out During egg-layins the tick grad
uaIly shrinks to about one-third or
one-fourth her former size. The egg
laying period continues for from four
days In the summer to 161 days be-
ginning In the fall. and during this
period from several hundred to 5000
eggs may be deposited. The mother
tick then dies within few days.
In from ~ days Gin summer) to
1ss days (in Tall or winter) after the
eRgs have been deposited they begin
60 hatch. From each one issues q
small. oval. six-lesged seed tick. at
frst amber colored. later changing to
. rich brown After crawling slowly
about the shell II usually remains
Quisscent for several days; then It dis
plays great activity. especially II the
4 weather 70 warm. and ascends the
nearest bit OF vegetation. such as
gross. herbs. or shrubs.
Since each female lays her eggs at
one spot, thousands OF newly hatched
ticks or larvae will appear at the
sdms place and later will ascend near
pt grass stems and collect on the
blades. This accounts for the brown
masses of larvae observed clinging to
vegetation In pastures or on fence
posts. This upward instinct OF the
ticks increases their chances OF reach
fnC a host. for when the vegetation Is
disturbed they become very active.
extending their long legs violently up
ward In an attempt to seize hold of a
host.
During Its life In the patsure the
seed tick takes no food and hence
does not increase In size. and unless
r. reaches a host II dies of starva-
tion. This fact is significant and n
taken advantage or In the work Of ex-
terminating the ticks. Their endur-
arce. however. is very great. and un-
der certain conditions they have been
FOUND TO live without nourishme n,
nearly eight months during the colder
part OF the year.
The length OF the period from the
time females drop until all the seed
ticks Matching from the eggs laid 10y
them are dead. or In other words, the
tima required for pastures to become
rrce OF ucks after all cattle, horses
and mules have been excluded. varle
wlsh the season OF the year. being
shortest during the warm part of th'
scar and longest during the cold par.
OF the year. Fer example. all ;he
seed ticks resulting from females
dropped June Is will be dead by No
vember 1. period of four and one
half months; but some OF those re-
suiting from females dropped Sep
tmber 1 may survive until the fol-
lowing July. perloid of ten months.
Another phase of development bc
aims when the tick reaches a favor
able host. such "a a COW. IL usually
attaches Itself to the skin of tn,