New Species Of Flea Research Articles

A NEW SPECIES OF FLEA (SIPHONAPTERA: CTENOPHTHALMIDAE) PARASITIZING VOLES AT HIGH ELEVATIONS IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA.

Both sexes of Catallagia appalachiensis n. sp. are described from high elevation spruce-fir forests in Sevier County, Tennessee and adjoining Swain County, North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The type host of the new flea is the southern red-backed vole, Myodes gapperi (Vigors) (25 flea specimens), although small numbers of specimens were also collected from a sympatric northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda (Say) (2 fleas), a red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben) (1 flea), and a North American deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner) (1 flea). Infestation prevalences for these hosts are provided. The new species is compared morphologically with other known species of Catallagia, in particular with Catallagia borealis, the only other described congeneric flea in eastern North America. This is the first new species of flea to be described from the eastern United States since 1980.

Description of two new species of Ectinorus (Ectinorus) (Siphonaptera, Rhopalopsyllidae) from Argentina, including a morphometric approach

Two new species of fleas of genus Ectinorus (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae) are described from sigmodontine rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae) collected during a survey of small mammals in northwestern Argentina.The new species belong to the subgenus Ectinorus and can be distinguished from all other species of the subgenus by the characteristics of the modified abdominal segments and by the genitalia. Moreover, the male of Ectinorus (Ectinorus) disjugis is described for the first time and the finding of this flea parasitizing the rodent Akodon spegazzinii, constitutes a new flea–host association. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Ectinorus, using traditional morphological characters and morphogeometric data, is presented to support the erection of the new species of Ectinorus. An identification key for all species of Ectinorus is also provided. Our study increases to 38 the total number of species of the subgenus Ectinorus, and to 20 the number for Argentina. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that Ectinorus is monophyletic but the subgenera are not. This study offers a new interpretation of morphological diversity within the genus as well as an evaluation of hypotheses about their relationships.

A New Species of Flea of the Genus Kohlsia Traub, 1950 (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Veracruz, Mexico.

A new flea species, Kohlsia misantlensis, is described from the central mountains of Veracruz, Mexico. The hosts of this new species are the Mexican deer mouse Peromyscus mexicanus (Saussure, 1860) (Mammalia: Rodentia:Muridae) and the Mexican spiny pocket mouse Heteromys sp. (Heteromyidae). This flea species is easily recognized by the great development of sternite VIII with a tuft of seven long bristles near the apex. The new species is included in a taxonomic key for the species of genus Kohlsia occurring in Mexico.

Fleas of the genus Tetrapsyllus (Siphonaptera:Rhopalopsyllidae) associated with rodents from Northwestern Argentina.

A new species of flea (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae) is described from sigmodontine rodents collected during a survey of small mammals in northwestern Argentina. The new species belongs to the subgenus Tetrapsyllus and can be distinguished from all species of the subgenus by characteristics of the modified abdominal segments and genitalia. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Tetrapsyllus using morphological characters is presented and the analysis supports the erection of this new Tetrapsyllus species in the subgenus Tetrapsyllus. The unique occurrence of a sinus in the caudal margin of the sixth sternite of females that is present only in the subgenus Tetrapsyllus (also unique across the Order Siphonaptera) is provided with a discussion of how this adaptation is mirrored in the parallel development of a spur on the sclerotized inner tube of males. Additional host and locality data are recorded for Tetrapsyllus (P.) bleptus. A key to the genus Tetrapsyllus is provided. The increased diversity of flea fauna bordering a known plague endemic area in northwestern Argentina may prove useful in implementing sustainable control measures in the future.

Descriptions of two new species of flea of the genus Plocopsylla in northwestern Argentina.

Two new species of flea of the genus Plocopsylla, subgenus Plocopsylla, (Siphonaptera: Stephanocircidae) collected from sigmodontine rodents in northwestern Argentina are described and a key to identification of species of the genus Plocopsylla, subgenus Plocopsylla, in Argentina is presented. Plocopsylla (P.) inti is cited for the first time in Argentina, extending its distribution ∼ 970 km further south than previously documented. New locality data and flea-host associations are recorded. The contributions of this study are relevant because they increase knowledge of the diversity of flea fauna in northwestern Argentina bordering a plague endemic area and will be useful in the implementation of plague control management plans in the future.

A New Flea Species of the Genus Cleopsylla (Siphonaptera: Stephanocircidae) from Northwestern Argentina.

A new species of flea of the genus Cleopsylla Rothschild, 1914 (Siphonaptera: Stephanocircidae) is described from sigmodontine rodents from northwestern Argentina. In Argentina, the genus was cited for the first time in 2008, but the species was erroneously identified. An identification key to species of Cleopsylla is presented.

A new flea of the genus Ctenidiosomus (Siphonaptera, Pygiopsyllidae) from Salta Province, Argentina.

A new species of flea of the genus Ctenidiosomus Jordan, 1931 (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllidae) is described from Phyllotis osilae J. A. Allen, 1901, from Salta Province, Argentina. This is the first time that Ctenidiosomus has been recorded in Argentina. A key to species of males of Ctenidiosomus is presented.

Description of Medwayella independencia (Siphonaptera, Stivaliidae), a new species of flea from Mindanao Island, the Philippines and their phoretic mites, and miscellaneous flea records from the Malay Archipelago.

Medwayella independencia, a new species of flea, is described from the tupaiid host Urogale everetti (Thomas) from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Several other species of fleas are also recorded from the Philippines including a single male of Lentistivalius philippinensis Hastriter and Bush, 2013 (previously known only from two males), the bat fleas Thaumapsylla breviceps orientalis Smit and Thaumapsylla longiforceps Traub, a single unidentified female species of Macrostylophora Ewing collected from the murid Bullimus bagobos Mearns, and a pair of Medwayella robinsoni ssp. from Sundasciurus hoogstraali (Sanborn) from Busuanga Island, Philippines. Representatives of Medwayella Traub, 1972 and Macrostylophora have not previously been recorded from the Philippines. A key to the male sex of Medwayella is provided. Phoretic mites of the genus Psylloglyphus (family Winterschmidtiidae) were present under the abdominal sclerites of several male and female specimens of M. independencia. This is the second report of a phoretic mite on a species of Medwayella Traub. The co-evolutionary implications between phoretic mites and fleas are discussed.

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora from the three-striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, in Java.

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae) are described from the three-striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, from Tjibodas, West Java (Jawa Barat), Indonesia at an elevation of 1500 m. Macrostylophora larisci sp. n. is described from three male specimens, Macrostylophora debilitata sp. n. is described from one male and Macrostylophora wilsoni sp. n. is described from one female. Non-genital morphological characters of the female specimen, including ctenidial spine shapes and lengths, show that it is not the corresponding female for either M. larisci sp. n. or M. debilitata sp. n. It is unusual for three different species of congeneric fleas to parasitize the same host species in the same geographical location. These three new species represent the first known records of Macrostylophora from Java and they could be enzootic vectors between rodents of flea-borne zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia typhi and Yersinia pestis, both of which are established on Java. A list is provided of the 43 known species and 12 subspecies of Macrostylophora together with their known geographical distributions and hosts. A map depicting the distributions of known Indonesian (and Bornean) species of Macrostylophora is also included.

Description of Lentistivalius philippinensis, a new species of flea (Siphonaptera, Pygiosyllomorpha, Stivalidae), and new records of Ascodipterinae (Streblidae) on bats and other small mammals from Luzon, The Philippines

During May 2009 and July 2011, we collected 357 mammals and examined each for ectoparasites. Among the ectoparasites collected, a new species of flea was discovered. This new species, Lentistivalius philippinensis, is described from the male sex only. Two males were recovered from two specimens of the soricid Crocidura grayi Dobson in Municipality Maria Aurora, Aurora Province, Luzon, Philippines. Additional fleas included Thaumapsylla breviceps orientalis Smit, Thaumapsylla longiforceps Traub, and Ischnopsyllus indicus Jordan. Although the latter species is common in Japan and documented in Guam (as well as mainland Southeast Asia) also on Pipistrellus javanicus (Gray), Ischnopsyllus indicus represents a new record in the Philippine Islands. The ascodipterinae (Streblidae) Maabella stomalata and Ascodipteron speiserianum Muir collected from Rhinolophus inops K. Andersen and Rhinolophus subrufus K. Andersen, respectively, also represent new host records. A key to the species of the flea genus Lentistivalius Traub is provided.

Two new species of fleas of the genus Kohlsia Traub, 1950 (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Mexico

Two new species of fleas of the genus Kohlsia Traub, 1950 (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Mexico

Two new species of fleas of the genus Kohlsia Traub, 1950 (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Mexico

Two new species of the genus Kohlsia Traub, 1950 from Mexico are described and illustrated, K. zyanya and K. ahuacatlan. A key to the species of Kohlsia known to occur in Mexico is provided.

A description of four new species of fleas (Insecta, Siphonaptera) from Angola, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru

Four new species of fleas are described: Aphropsylla truncata sp. n. (Ethiopia), Ectinorus hirsutus sp. n. (Peru), Rhinolophopsylla traubi sp. n. (Angola), and Thaumapsylla wilsoni sp. n. (Papua New Guinea). Our understanding of the genus Aphropsylla is deficient, therefore a discussion of host/parasite relationships and new records from Uganda are provided. A key is provided for the genus Aphropsylla, while representatives of the other three genera are associated with existing keys to facilitate their identification. The presence of lucodiscs on Apropsylla and other genera is briefly discussed. The occurrence of lucodiscs among representatives of the order Siphonaptera deserves further investigation.

Echidnophaga suricatta (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), a new species of flea from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Echidnophaga suricatta (Pulicidae), a new species of flea collected from the meerkat (Suricata suricatta Schreber, 1776) near Garies (30°22’S, 17°31’E) and Brandvlei (30°27’S, 20°29’E), Northern Cape Province, South Africa, is described. Based on chaetotaxy of the tarsal segments, this new species is most closely related to E. bradyta Jordan & Rothschild, 1906, E. iberica Ribeiro, Lucientes, Osacar & Calvete, 1994, E. macronychia Jordan & Rothschild, 1906, and E. ochotona Li, 1957. A key is provided for the 23 recognized species or subspecies in the genus Echidnophaga.

Some Fleas (Siphonaptera) from Sulawesi Selatan, with the Description of Three New Species1

New species of fleas belonging to the genera Sigmactenus, Gryphopsylla, and Stivalius are described; in each case the generic keys are updated to include the new taxa. In addition, Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides orientis, Xenopsylla cheopis, and Xenopsylla astia are established as faunal elements of the island of Sulawesi (Celebes).

Description of a New Species of Catallagia (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae: Neopsyllinae)

A new species of flea. Catallagia calisheri . is described from the Deer Mouse. Peromycus maniculatus , captured in the Arctic-Alpine Life Zone. Larimer County, Colorado, Catallagia . primarily a Nearctic genus, now includes 14 species.

THREE NEW SPECIES OF FLEAS FROM CANADA (SIPHONAPTERA)

AbstractThree new species of fleas are described, two of the family HYSTRICHOPSYLLIDAE Tiraboschi 1904 (Nearctopsylla grahami n. sp. and Rhadinopsylla (Micropsylla) rauschi n. sp.) and one of the family CERATOPHYLLIDAE Dampf 1908 (Ceratophyllus calderwoodi n. sp,). N. grahami is known only from western Ontario where it has been collected from marten, Martes a. americana. R. (M.) rauschi was collected from deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus osgoodi, in southwestern Saskatchewan. C. calderwoodi was collected from a nest of cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, in eastern New Brunswick.

Phalacropsylla oregonensis sp. n., with a Key to the Species of Phalacropsylla Rothschild 1915 (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae)

A new species of flea belonging to the genus Phalacropsylla is described. The known distribution and host associations of the 5 recognized species are briefly discussed, and a key to these taxa is included.

Notes on the flea genus Megarthroglossus (Siphonaptera: hystrichopsyllidae: anomiopsyllinae), with description of a new species.

A new species of flea, Megarthroglossus weaveri Eads & Campos, is described from Colorado. Included is information on other species of the genus obtained during a plague study in Larimer County, Colorado. Also given is a key to the males of the species of Megarthroglossus Jordan & Rothschild.

The Paradoxopsyllus fauna of Nepal with descriptions of eight new species and a key to the genus (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae).

Eight new species of fleas belonging to the genus Paradoxopsyllus Miyajima & Koidsumi, 1909 are described from various small mammal hosts from Nepal. P. acanthus , n. sp. is a common parasite of Rattus and Alticola species. P. digitatus , n. sp. also is known from hosts of these genera, but is much less common. A fairly common parasite of Rattus, Mus and Alticola species is P. hollandi , n. sp. The remaining 5 species all come from the Tibetan mountain desert of Mustang District. These are P. magnificus , n. sp. from Apodemus and Alticola, P. mustangensis , n. sp. from Rattus and Mus, P. oribatus , n. sp. from Apodemus and Ochotona, P. paraphaeopis , n. sp. from Rattus and P. spinosus , n. sp., also from Rattus . The usefulness of some of the characters used in taxonomic discrimination is discussed, and a key to the 26 known members of the genus is provided. A 9th species, P. custodis Jordan, 1932, is again reported from Nepal.