Emona hirta, Pterostichus præcox, Coptomma variegata and Xyloteles griseus, at Ophir, in Central Otago. It was also taken on a fly in the Wellington district, and on an introduced wood louse (Porcellio scaber). As far back as 1892 Mr Maskell reported this mite on a species of Elater (?) from Wellington; and on Oniscus (Porcellio?) from Christchurch. The carabid found infested with this mite at Ashburton was in a cucumber-frame which was crowded with wood lice. Mr Smith says this species has only been detected in certain districts within recent years, and he considers it to be an introduced form which is spreading rapidly. Sub-order PROSTIGMATA Family TROMBIDIIDÆ Tetranychus tellarius, Linn. Red Spider This mite has probably been in New Zealand from early days of settlement. It was reported in 1873 as occurring commonly on apple trees, but probably this was a mistaken identification, and Bryobia pratensis was intended. It is a common greenhouse and vinery pest, but numerous reported cases refer to the other species. As far as I know, it is not found on apple trees at all, but I have heard of its attacking violets. The Agricultural Department reported it in 1911 as common on Cape gooseberries, violets and primroses. Tetranychus bimaculatus, Harvey. Red Spider Mr A. H. Cockayne states, in the Afforestation report for 1910-11, that this species threatens to become a serious menace to the successful growing of certain species of Abies in the Canterbury district. Chapter X PENTASTOMIDE, PLATYHELMINTHES, PLATYHELMINTHES TURBELLARIA Family BIPALIIDÆ Bipalium kewense, Moseley PROFESSOR DENDY, writing in 1894, says: This species, which has been so widely distributed by the unintentional agency of man, and whose natural habitat is still unknown, was obtained by Mr T. Steel in Albert Park, Auckland, in 1892. Family RHYNCHODEMIDÆ Rhynchodemus moseleyi, Fletcher and Hamilton Four specimens of this Australian species were collected by Mr Steel in Albert Park, Auckland, in 1892. Family GEOPLANIDÆ Geoplana sanguinea, Moseley In 1879 Captain Hutton described this Australian planarian as Rhynchodemus testaceus, from specimens obtained by him at Dunedin and Wellington. It has since been collected at Napier, Auckland and Tarawera township, and is probably widespread throughout New Zealand. Geoplana cœrulea, Moseley, var. Three specimens of this common Australian species were reported in 1892, from Albert Park, Auckland. It is quite probable that all four species of these introduced Land Planarians are widely spread in New Zealand, but very few persons notice, and fewer collect them. TREMATODA Family AMPHISTOMATIDÆ Found in the rumen and reticulum of cattle, but apparently does little harm. It has been reported from time to time both by Drs Gilruth and Reakes. Family DISTOMATIDÆ (Distomum hepaticum, Retz.) Fasciola hepatica, Linn. Liver Fluke This parasite was undoubtedly introduced with living sheep, and is not common, nor does it appear to cause loss of stock. It occurs in the livers and bile-ducts of sheep in the Hawke's Bay, Fielding and Nelson districts. Cases were found at Te Hauke in Hawke's Bay in 1897, and again in Waipawa and Te Aute in 1907. The European host is a small snail, Lymnæa trunculata. This species does not occur in New Zealand, but there are half-a-dozen native species of the genus, and probably one of these is the intermediary host. The presence of fluke was recognised when sheep came to be examined in the freezing works after the passing of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act in 1900. It occasionally occurs in cattle. CESTODA Family TANIIDÆ Moniezia expansa, Rud. In 1902 Dr Gilruth stated that this species was the common tape-worm of the sheep in New Zealand. In 1903 it was stated to be very common, and it was reported that calves were infected with it in several districts. In 1916 Dr Reakes informed me that it was occasionally found in cattle, but was rare and did no harm economically. It was also found in sheep, but he adds "it is not common and probably does little harm. No serious mortality has been traced to it." It is impossible to say when it was first introduced into the country. Colonel Reid states that it occurs also in goats in New Zealand. Moniezia alba, Rud. Dr Reakes states that this is occasionally found in cattle on postmortem examination, but that it is far from common. Moniezia planissima, Rud. According to Dr Reakes this parasite is occasionally found in cattle and sheep, but is far from common. Moniezia filicollis, Rud. Colonel Reid states that this species occurs in sheep in New Zealand. Tania echinococcus, V. Sieb. (Larval form: Echinococcus polymorphus, Dies.; E. veterinorum, Rud.) This is the most common tape-worm in dogs, and Dr Reakes thinks was probably introduced with the first European dogs brought into the country. It is widely distributed all over the Dominion, and Dr Gilruth considers "that it is almost impossible to find an ox or sheep perfectly free from them." They are also found in horses and in pigs. In stock they are not so dangerous as in man, where their hydatid cysts form a destructive and offensive form of disease. The following figures, showing the extent to which hydatids in human beings occur in New Zealand, during the years 1914 to 1917, have been kindly furnished to me by Mr Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician: 1916 ... 90 78 1917 Deaths due to hydatids... 12 II 17 12 Tania marginata, Batsch. (larva = Cysticercus tenuicollis, Rud.) This tape-worm is also common in dogs, and the larval form in cattle, sheep, and, occasionally, in pigs. It has been a very long time in New Zealand, but it does comparatively little harm; the cysts are usually found in the serous membranes, particularly those covering the intestines. The slender neck enables it to be easily removed. The larvæ frequently die when encysted in oxen or sheep, become calcified, and are then occasionally taken for tubercular growths. The parasite does not attack human beings. Tania solium, Rud. (larva = Cysticercus cellulosa, Rud.). This cestode, which produces "pig-measles," has never to my knowledge been recorded in its tape-worm form in man in New Zealand, but Colonel Reid reports the cystic form as occurring in pigs. Tania cœnurus, Kürch. (larva = Conurus cerebralis, Rud.) This tape-worm occurs in the dog, but its cystic stage develops in the brain-cavity of the sheep, producing the disease known as "Gid" in England, and “sturdy” in Scotland. It is not very common, but some cases were recorded from Christchurch and Wellington in 1897, and again in 1901-12. It also occurs in cattle. Tania serialis, Baillet (larva = Conurus serialis, Gervais) Colonel Reid reports this tape-worm as occurring in dogs. It is closely related to the preceding species. The cystic form occurs in rabbits and hares, but it has not been recorded from those animals in New Zealand. Tania crassicollis, Rud. (larva = Cysticercus fasciolaris, Rud.) Colonel Reid records this tape-worm as occurring in cats in New Zealand. The cyst-stage occurs in rats and mice. = Tania serrata, Goeze (larva Cysticercus pisiformis, Zed.) In 1888 Professor Thomas reported the larva or bladder-worm as fairly common among rabbits in the Waikato, but as rare in the Wairarapa. The tape-worm occurs in dogs, and the cyst-stage in hares and rabbits. The parasite does not attack man. Tania saginata, Goeze (larva = Cysticercus mediocanellata, A case of this was reported from Invercargill in 1908; the parasite affecting the muscular tissue of the heart of a bullock. In its adult condition this tape-worm lives exclusively in the intestinal canal of man, while the corresponding Cysticercus is found almost exclusively in the ox. The popular name is the unarmed beef-worm, or the fat tape-worm. It is a cosmopolitan species, found especially in the tropics. An individual of this species has been estimated to give off in a year, 550 grammes weight of proglottids. Tania (Anoplocephala) perfoliata, Goeze This tape-worm is sometimes met with in horses in New Zealand; it is usually found in the cæcum. NEMATHELMINTHES NEMATODA Family ASCARIDÆ1 Ascaris megalocephala, Cloq. Common White Worm Dr Reakes states that this worm, which is found in the intestines of the horse, is widely distributed throughout the Dominion. It apparently does little harm. It was probably introduced with the first horses which came into the country. Ascaris suis, Goeze. Large White Worm of Pig This worm, which is not uncommon in the small intestines of the pig, is not uncommon in New Zealand. Dr Reakes states that it does little harm. 1 In the N.Z. Journal of Agriculture, Vol. XXII, No. 2 (Feb. 1921), at p. 123, it is stated that pigs at Roa were infested with worms-probably Ascaris lumbricoides. 23 T. N. Z. |