Lecture 4 - Insects: Siphonaptera

Question 1

What structures do AU, AT, MT and EP represent?

Answer 1

AU = eye
AT= antenna
MT = palps

EP = feeding tube

Question 2

What structures are indicated by the arrow? What is this creature?

Answer 2

Anal struts - distinguishes a flea larvae .

Question 3

Why are fleas obligate parasites?

Answer 3

Because female fleas need a bloodmeal to stimulate egg laying - therefore the host is intrinsically part of their life cycle.

Question 4

What are three possible effects of flea parasitism on the host?

Answer 4

Any of:
- irritation

• hypersensitivity reaction
• anaemia
• infection with disease for which fleas are vector e.g D caninum or A. reconditum

Question 5

Which image represents C. canis?

Answer 5

Left

Question 6

What genus do cat and dog fleas belong to?

Answer 6

Ctenocephalides

Question 7

Which species - Ct. canis or Ct. felis - is this tibia likely to be from?

Answer 7

Ctenocephalides canis.

Question 8

Give four morphological features you might use to tell Ct. canis from Ct. felis.

Answer 8

Any of:
Head shape
First genal ctenidium length

Prominence of pores along back

Prominence of spines along back
Conformation of leg bristles at dorsal margin of hind tibia

Question 9

Is this specimen most likely Ct. canis or Ct. felis?

Answer 9

Ctenocephalides felis

Question 11

Which image represents Ctenocephalides felis?

Answer 11

Left

Question 12

Which image represents Ctenocephalides canis?

Answer 12

Right

Question 13

Name three anti-flea chemicals, their routes of administration and for which species.

Answer 13

e.g fluralaner (Bravecto) oral every 3 months, dogs only
imidacloprid (Advantage) spot on monthly dogs and cats
selamectin (Revolution) spot on monthly dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, ferrets, rabbit etc

Question 14

Name one IGR for treatment of on-host fleas.

Answer 14

Lufenuron (topical)

Question 15

List three actions you could take to eradicate environmental fleas in the home.

Answer 15

Any of:

• flea bomb (pyrethroids + IGRs)
• vacuum
• wash bedding (yours and pet’s)
• spray outside area e.g OPs, pyrethroids

Question 16

What is the Class, Order and Genus of this creature? List two major morphological features that allow a genus ID.

What species does it parasitise?

Answer 16

Class: Insecta
Order: Siphonaptera
Genus: Echidnophaga

Echidnophagids have short thorax and no combs.

Echidnophagids are parasites of chickens, native animals

Question 17

What is the latin name of the ‘stick-fast flea of poultry’?

Answer 17

Echidnophaga gallinacea

Question 18

Which genus of Siphonaptera most commonly causes probelsm in free-range piggeries?

Answer 18

Pulex

Question 19

What is the Class, Order and Genus of this creature. How did you make this ID?

Answer 19

Insecta
Siphonaptera
Pulex

No combs, but not hunched abdomen therefore must be Pulex, not Echidnophaga.

Question 20

What is the genus of this creature? How did you ID it? What species does it parasitise and what are the consequences?

Answer 20

Spilopsyllus; has vertical genal comb (sideburn)

Specific parasite of rabbits (may be found on cats, but needs rabbits to breed). Vector for myxomatosis.