Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-04-21
INTEREST TO FARMERS
How to Distinguish Harmless Ticks.

The Texas fever tick, also
called the cattle or cow tick, IS
continually confused with num-
. Der of other ticks occasionally
found on cattle; but SO far as con-
Germs the transmission OF Texas
fever, is entirely harmless to
them. It is this lack Of identlti-
cation and the inability Of many
cattle owners to distinguish be-
tween these various ticks that
have caused so many diverse opln-
ions regarding the important part
played by the Texas fever TICK IN
transmitting Texas fever.
AS a matter of fact, there are
eight different kinds Of ticks,
namely:
l. Margarpus annulatus or Tex
as fever tick.
2. Ixodes ricinus or castor
bean tick.
8. Demacen 'terreticulatus, net
tick.
A. Dermacentor electus, Amer
can dog tick.
5. Amblyomma Americanum,
Lone Star tick or spot back.
6. OrnithOdoros megnln1, ear
lick of cattle, horses and mules.
z. Argas miniatus, chicken
tick.
8. modes hexagonus, Euro
pean dog tick.
The first OK mentioned is the
)nlv tick of the above mentioned
chat has the power of carrying
and introducing the germ into
the blood of cattle which causes
Texas fever, comr1Only known as
nurrain-dry murraln, yellow
rnurrain. bloody murrain, black
water, red water, Mexican fever,
spanish fever, ETC., until 21 diff
ierent synonyms have been used
cor naming the disease.
The Texas fever tick is found
IN cattle mostly; sometimes on
..orses, mules and asses, and IN
one instance on a sheep. They
do not infest rabbits. squirrels,
logs, etc., as is sometimes claim
ed.
The other seven specie or va
.ieties enumerated are found on
cattle, horses, mules, asses,
Wneep, goats, deer, foxes, rab-
its, squirrels, birds and some
mes on man.
In order to differentiate be-
yeen the ticks that may be
,ound on cattle, a brief descrlp-
,on If tha INNER surface of the
aturing or adult female Texas
ever tick is here given.
This tick may be readily dis
'nguished from the other seven
.cks by the small size and color
!. the head and shield (sO-called
cad parts which is very short
I'd broad and a dark reddish
rown or chestnut brown. The
)dy is oblong and oval in shape
ID may reach half inch IN
,ngth. The color vrries from
Ill yellow to an olive brown.
ften it is notified with irregular
cas- of yellow and brown or
reaked with wavy lines Of these
elors. Two groves or indenta-
ms are seen running from the
ont to the rear on the skin of
,e back, which almost or entire
disappear at about the middle
the body; another grove is
9n between these two groves,
the posterior or back part of
3 body. These grooves are
FUSED by the contraction of the
,uscles of the body. and there
re vary considerably and may
sntirely disappear when the tick
engorged or full of blood,
lese groves are very distinct
hen the tick has been removed
ON cattle for several days.
1e four pairs of legs are brown,
oderately long and very slen-
ar.
The male tick is very small and
aes not become engorged or
led with blood as does the fe-
he. consequently remains very
iall-about lis the size of a
lily engorged female.
The ticks found upon cattle
d horses through this section
the country where they have
It been eradicated. are in near
every instance fever ticks.
Very respectfully,
d. B. LEININGER,
Cow op6 AcC't State Vpt