Abstract
The new subgenus Alloctenus is established for Nearctic species of Ctenophthalmus Kolenati 1856, characterized by (1) the first two spines of the genal ctenidium rounded or blunt; (2) at least the ventral spines of the pronotal comb concave and apically blunt and (3) four pairs of lateral plantar bristles on apical segments of all tarsi. Ct. (Alloctenus) cryptotis n.sp., ex cryptotis shrews, is the type of the new subgenus, which also includes Ct. expansus Traub 1950, and Ct. caballeroi Barrera & Machado 1960. All known species are Mexican and presumably infest shrews. Ct. (Alloctenus) expansus myodosus n. ssp., ex cryptotis on Mt. Colima, is likewise described and figured. (The female of that species was heretofore unknown.) Evidence is presented indicating that the genal and pronotal combs of fleas parasitizing soricid insectivores are generally modified in a characteristic manner, and that these modifications do not occur in closely related species which infest talpid insectivores or mice instead of shrews. This phenomenon is exhibited in several genera representing at least two families of Siphonaptera.
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