DESCRIPTIONS OF FLEA LARVAE (SIPHONAPTERA: CERATOPHYLLIDAE:CERATOPHYLLUSSPP.) FOUND IN THE NESTS OF SWALLOWS (AVES: PASSERIFORMES: HIRUNDINIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA, NORTH OF MEXICO

Abstract

AbstractDescriptions are provided for larvae of nine species ofCeratophyllusCurtis for which swallows in North America, north of Mexico, are recorded hosts. A detailed description is provided for the larva ofCeratophyllus celsus celsusJordan and for other species only where there are significant differences fromC.c.celsus.Ceratophyllus celsus celsus,Ceratophyllus scopulorumHolland, andCeratophyllus petrochelidoniWagner are characterized by a large number of anal comb (25–42) and anal mound (13–23) setae, but among themselves have not proved separable;Ceratophyllus styx ripariusJordan and Rothschild is remarkable in having two ventral plate setae on all thoracic segments as well as on the eighth and occasionally the ninth abdominal segments;Ceratophyllus idiusJordan and Rothschild andCeratophyllus nigerC. Fox characteristically display stout ventral plate setae on the thoracic segments, as seen inC.c.celsus, but have fewer anal comb and mound setae. We are unable to separate larvae ofC.idiusandC.nigerfrom each other.Ceratophyllus gallinae(Schrank) also has few comb and mound setae, but the ventral plate setae are more slender than evident in other species treated here.Ceratophyllus diffinisJordan andCeratophyllus gareiRothschild, the sole Nearctic representatives of the subgenusEmmareusSmit, are characterized by their short, slender, thoracic ventral plate setae, but have not been separated from each other here. Redescriptions are provided for larvae ofC.gallinaeandC.garei. Descriptions for all other taxa are provided for the first time. A key is provided to the known larvae of species associated with swallows in North America, north of Mexico.