On a new genus and species of Siphonaptera from Nyasaland

Abstract

The Entomological Research Committee has received from Zomba four specimens of a new species of flea which is related to the genera Leptopsylla, Roths. (1911; type musculi, Dugès, 1832) and Palaeopsylla, Wagn. (1902; type minor, Dale, 1878 = gracilis, Tasch., 1880) but differs so much from the species belonging to these genera that it requires a separate genus. The species is especially remarkable for the development of its head and buccal organs (fig. 1). The mandibles as well as the labrum are very broad, particularly the former, and closely resemble those of Spilopsyllus cmiiculi, Dale (1878), and the Sarcopsyllidae. This peculiar parallelism also obtains in the labial palpi, which show a reduction similar to that which occurs in the fleas mentioned, being but feebly chitinized and consisting of only three distinct segments. The size of the labrum and mandibles suggests that the species fixes itself to the host by means of these organs in the same way as Spilopsyllus cunieuli, i.e., more permanently than do the majority of fleas. The structure of the head bears out this surmise inasmuch as the buccal slit extends far upwards, the frons being short, which allows the piercing organs to assume an almost horizontal position when being driven into the skin of the host.