The attachment of eggs of a mite Epidermoptes bilobatus to the skin of its host

Extract

Certain species of mites and insects live permanently in the hair coat of mammals and feather coats of birds. The majority lay eggs which are attached either to hairs or feathers, as with lice, or rest on the surface of the skin, as with certain mange mites. However, there appears to be no record in the literature of the eggs of any permanent ectoparasite of birds or mammals which are attached to the skin of its host by means of a distinct stalk. In Fig. 1 may be seen a photograph of the egg of the mite Epidermoptes bilobatus Rivolta, 1876 attached to the skin of a turkey poult. Each egg was attached to the skin by a distinct strap-like stalk which held the egg quite clear of the skin. The manner of attachment of this stalk to the posterior pole of the egg was constant (Fig. 2), in contrast to the attachment to the skin (Fig. 3).