Fleas

Randers Fjord

Life cycle of the Chigoe Flea (Tunga penetrans)Eggs are shed by the gravid female into the environment (1). Eggs hatch into larvae (2) in about 3-4 days and feed on organic debris in the environment. Tunga penetrans has two larval stages before forming pupae (3). The pupae are in cocoons that are often covered with debris from the environment (sand, pebbles, etc). The larval and pupal stages take about 3-4 weeks to complete. Afterwards, adults hatch from pupae (4) and seek out a warm-blooded host for blood meals. Both males and females feed intermittently on their host, but only mated females burrow into the skin (epidermis) of the host, where they cause a nodular swelling (5). Females do not have any specialized burrowing organs, and simply claw into the epidermis after attaching with their mouthparts. After penetrating the stratum corneum, they burrow into the stratum granulosum, with only their posterior ends exposed to the environment (6). The female fleas continue to feed and their abdomens extend up to about 1 cm. Females shed about 100 eggs over a two-week period, after which they die and are sloughed by the host’s skin. Secondary bacterial infections are not uncommon with tungiasis.From Centers for Disease Control Parasites and Health website

Diomedes. Fairway Rock -- Ignalook (America) -- Noonabook (Asia); (Viewed from the Arctic Ocean; looking S.S.W. 7 m.)

Figures 10–13.Ectinorus spiculatus sp. n., male, holotype 10 Overview 11 Head, pronotum and forecoxa 12 Enlargement of frontal tubercle (insert) 13 Terminal segments. Scale Fig. 10 = 500µ; Figs 11 and 13 = 200µ

Figures 4–7.Lentistivalius philippinensis sp. n. (P2316) 4 Overview, male holotype 5 Thorax 6 Head, pronotum, forecoxa 7 Abdominal tergites. (Scale: Fig. 4 = 100 µ; Figs 5–7 = 200µ).

Figures 5–8.Medwayella independencia sp. n. male paratype (P-5525). 5 Aedeagus 6 Enlargement of apex of aedeagus (B.CR. = body of crochet, DEL.FL = deltoid flap of hood of aedeagus, GRV. = groove-like structure of Ford’s sclerite, HD. = hood of aedeagus, L.A. = lower arm of securifer, M.D.L. = median dorsal lobe of aedeagus, PHY. = phylax, PIV.R. = pivotal ridge of phylax, Q.C. = quasi-crochet, S.I.T. = sclerotized inner tube, THM. = thumb-like apex of alpha-portion of Ford’s sclerite, U.A. = upper arm of securifer 7 Basimere, telomere, and S-IX 8 Eighth sternum, LUM. = lumacaudate process. (Scale: 5, 7–8= 200 µm; 6 = 100 µm).

Randers Fjord

Figures 14–16.Ectinorus spiculatus sp. n. 14 Male, holotype, thorax and metepimeron 15 Female, allotype, spermatheca and bursa copulatrix 16 Male, holotype, aedeagus. Scale Fig. 14 = 200µ; Figs 15–16 = 100µ

Figures 8–10.Lentistivalius philippinensis sp. n., male paratype (P2211). 8 Aedeagus 9 Tergum IX and Sternum IX 10 Sternum VIII. (Scale: 200µ).

Figures 1–4.Medwayella independencia sp. n. 1 Head and pronotum, male holotype (P-5525) 2 Head and pronotum, female paratype (P-5657) 3 Abdominal tergites, male holotype (P-5525) 4 Abdominal sterna, male holotype (P-5525). (Scale: 1–4 = 200 µm).

Hobro, Jylland, Danmark

Figurs 17–23.Ectinorus spiculatus sp. n., female, allotype 17 Overview 18 Dorsal and ventral anal segments 19 Hind tarsal segments 20 Head, pronotum, and forecoxa 21 Enlargement of frontal tubercle (insert) 22 Spiculated medial surface of hind tibia (insert) 23 Ectinorus spiculatus sp. n., female, paratype, seventh sternum, spermatheca, and bursa copulatrix. Scale Fig. 17 = 500µ; Figs 18–20 and 23 = 200µ

Figure 11.Lentistivalius philippinensis sp. n., male holotype (P2316). Sensilium, dorsal and ventral anal lobes, and subsensilial sclerite (arrow). (Scale: 100µ).

Figures 9–12.Medwayella independencia, sp. n. 9 Thorax, holotype male (P-5525) 10 Seventh sternum, female paratype (P-5657) 11 Vaginal canal, female allotype, a = mesal tanned ridge of T-VIII, b = dilated portion of duct of spermatheca, c = sclerotized ventral wall of perula, d = eighth sternum 12 Spermatheca, female allotype. (Scale: 9–10 = 200 µm, 11 = 100 µm, 12 = 50 µm).

Figures 12–13.Lentistivalius philippinensis sp. n., male paratype (P2211). 12 Lateral of hind femur, longitudinal parallel sculpturing 13 Mesal view of hind femur, vertical parallel sculpturing 14–15 Lentistivalius philippinensis, sp. n., male holotype (P2316) 14 Hind tibia 15 Hind tarsi. (Scale: Figs 12–13 = 100µ; Figs 14–15 = 200µ)

Figure 13.Medwayella independencia, sp. n., holotype male (P-5525) terminal segments illustrating four mites beneath T-VIII (see arrows). (Scale: 400 µm).

A female Xenopsylla cheopis.

The posterior margin of the metanotum of fleas in the family Ceratophyllidae has spinelets, or tiny pigmented teeth.Created: 1976

Note the difference in the arrangement of the tergal bristles on Ceratophyllidae and Hystrichopsyllidae fleas.Created: 1976

Fleas in the family Pulicidae are distinguished by the presence of one row of setae on each of their abdominal terga.Created: 1976

The pronotal and genal combs may be used when identifying fleas who are members of the family Pulicidae.Created: 1976

This image reveals anatomic features found in the head region of fleas in the genus Hoplopsyllus.Created: 1976