Order Siphonaptera Flashcards
Siphonaptera characteristics
1) small
2) wingless insects
3) body is laterally compressed
4) brown in color
5) Male and female are blood sucking
6) eyes are simple
7) thorax has 3 segments & abdomen has 10 segments
8) 9th segment of both male and female bears pydigium or sensillum
Ninth segment of both male and female bears a dorsal pin-cushion like plate called
pydigium or sensillum
In the male, the tergum of the 9th segment is modified to form the _______, which holds the female during copulation.
claspers
chitinous and coiled
Aedeagus (penis)
Female flea has spermatheca in which region?
region of the 9th segment
stabilized protein with highly elastic properties
resilin
large spines or stiff bristles
comb or ctenidia
large spines or stiff bristles on the cheek or genal
genal comb
large spines or stiff bristles on the posterior border of the 1st thoracic segment
pronotal comb
It divides the head into frons (anterior) and occiput (posterior) portions.
antennal groove
Mouthparts of Order Siphonaptera (fleas or pulgas) consist of what?
epipharynx
laciniae of the first maxilla
mandibles
These are not markedly host specific.
Fleas
Families under Order Siphonaptera
Family Pulicidae
Family Ceratophyllidae
Family Leptopsyllidae
SN of “stick tight or burrowing flea”
Echidnophaga gallinacea
Common name of Echidnophaga gallinacea
“stick tight or burrowing flea”
SN of sand flea, jiggers, or chigoe
Tunga penetrans
CN of Tunga penetrans
sand flea, jiggers, or chigoe
SN of human flea
Pulex irritans
CN of Pulex irritans
Human flea
SN of oriental rat flea
Xenopsylla cheopis
CN of oriental rat flea
Xenopsylla cheopis
SN of cat flea
Ctenocephalides felis
CN of Ctenocephalides felis
Cat flea
SN of dog flea
Ctenocephalides canis
CN of Ctenocephalides canis
Dog flea
Parasite of chickens principally found in the Southeastern U.S. May attack other animals like horses, cattle, dogs, rats, etc.
Echidnophaga gallinacea “stick tight or burrowing flea”
Head is angular
No ctenidia
Echidnophaga gallinacea “stick tight or burrowing flea”
Man is the primary host. May also attack other animals like pigs, rats, skunks, etc.
Tunga penetrans (sand flea, jiggers, or chigoe)
thorax reduced, frons sharply angled or angular
Tunga penetrans “sand flea, jiggers or chigoe”
Man and other mammals.
Smoothly rounded frons.
Mesopleural rod absent.
Genal and pronotal ctenidia absent.
Pulex irritans (human flea)
Occurs in brown rats but readily bites man. Common in brown and black rats.
Xenopsylla cheopis (oriental rat flea)
Frons smoothly rounded.
Mesopleural rod present.
Genal and pronotal ctenidia absent.
Xenopsylla cheopis (oriental rat flea)
Most common in both dogs and cats.
Frons pointed
Oral and pronotal ctenidia present
1st oral genal ctenidia slightly shorter than the second.
Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea)
Less common than C. felis. Occurs in both dogs and cats.
Frons rounded
Oral and pronotal ctenidia present
First oral ctenidia much shorter than the 2nd.
Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea)
CN of Nosopsyllus fasciatus
“Northern rat flea”
SN of “Northern rat flea”
Nosopsyllus fasciatus
on rodents
X Oral ctenidia
✓ Pronotal ctenidia
Nosopsyllus fasciatus – “Northern rat flea”
Fleas of chickens
Ceratophyllus gallinae
C. niger
CN of Leptopsylla cuniculi
rabbit flea
CN of Leptopsylla cuniculi
Rabbit flea
CN of Leptopsylla segnis
mouse flea
SN of mouse flea
Leptopsylla segnis
Presence of vertical genal ctenidia
Leptopsylla segnis – mouse flea
Type of development of fleas
Holometabolous development
last abdominal segments bear two hooked processes called _________ which are used for locomotion and for holding on to strata
anal struts
The female fleas lay their eggs at night while attached to the bird, and the very small eggs fall to the ground.
Echidnophaga gallinacea
The larvae feed on organic material, mainly on dried blood excreted by adult fleas and shelter in the surface dust and litter on the ground.
Echidnophaga gallinacea
