A Comparison of the Number of Tropical Rat mites and Tropical Fowl Mites that Fed at Different Temperatures1

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Abstract
Adults and nymphs of the tropical fowl mite, Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese) and the tropical rat mite, O. bacoti (Hirst) were subjected to different temperature ranges from 72°-75° F to 111°-115° F in a heating appartus and in an Aminco Aire Climatizer. The mites were given an opportunity to feed on heparinized chicken blood at each of the different temperatures and a record was maintained of the number of mites that fed. Three species of laelaptid mites also were subjected to these tests. The results of tests with these species are represented graphically. The 3 species were: Laclaps nuttali (Hirst); Echinolaelaps echidninus (Berlese) and Haemolaelaps glasgoun (Ewing). Ten mites of each stage were aspirated into tubes 3×0.25 in. A rubber cylinder with a silk membrane attached to the lower end was introduced into the glass tube. The blood was introduced into the cylinder and the mites fed through the membrane. More mites of both species and stages fed at 102°- 107° F than at the other temperatures. The number of mites that fed increased with each increase in temperature from 72°-75° F to 102°-107° F. At temperatures higher than the 102°-107° F range the number decreased. More O. bacoti fed on chick blood and on the skin of rat, chick, and man than O. bursa. More O. bursa. adults and nymphs fed when the blood temperature and the environmental temperature were 102°-107° F than where a temperature gradient existed between blood and environment. A decrease in temperature did not affect mites of the genera Laelaps and Haemolaelaps as much as it did mites of the genus Ornithonyssus.