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| | ===''Ctenocephalides felis''=== | | ===''Ctenocephalides felis''=== |
| | + | |
| | + | *Most common flea on cats and dogs |
| | + | |
| | + | *Commonly called the 'cat flea' |
| | + | |
| | + | *Can bite humans and other animals |
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| | + | *Both genal and pronotal commbs present |
| | + | |
| | + | *Similar length genal combs |
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| | + | *Sloping nose |
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| | ===''Ctenocephalides canis''=== | | ===''Ctenocephalides canis''=== |
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| | + | *Not very common |
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| | + | *Commonly called the 'dog flea' |
| | + | |
| | + | *Host specific |
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| | + | *Both genal and pronotal commbs present |
| | + | |
| | + | *Irregular length genal spines |
| | + | |
| | + | *Rounded nose |
| | | | |
| | ===''Ceratophyllus gallinae''=== | | ===''Ceratophyllus gallinae''=== |
| | + | |
| | + | *Commonly called the 'poultry flea' |
| | + | |
| | + | *Bites humans and other animals |
| | + | |
| | + | *Pronotal combs only |
| | | | |
| | ===''Pulex irritans''=== | | ===''Pulex irritans''=== |
| | + | |
| | + | *Commonly called the 'human flea' |
| | + | |
| | + | *No combs |
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| | + | *Head rounded anteiorly |
| | | | |
| | ===''Spilopsyllus cuniculi''=== | | ===''Spilopsyllus cuniculi''=== |
| | + | |
| | + | *Commonly called the 'rabbit flea' |
| | + | |
| | + | *Both genal and pronotal combs present |
| | + | |
| | + | *Genal comb obviously oblique |
| | + | |
| | + | *Behaviour synchronised with the reproductive cycle of the rabbit |
| | + | **Adults spend most of their time off the host taking occasional blood feeds |
| | + | **Shortly before the doe gives birth the adult fleas attach to the ears of the rabbit and feed producing a lot of faeces |
| | + | **After parturition the adult fleas move onto the kittens where they feed, mate and lay eggs |
| | + | **The new adult fleas emerge from the pupa before the kittens leave the nest |
| | | | |
| | ===Other important flea species=== | | ===Other important flea species=== |
| | + | |
| | + | *Fleas of wildlife can sometimes infect domestic animals |
| | + | |
| | + | *Other species of importance are found in America |
| | + | **E.g. ''Tunga penetrans'' or 'Jiggers' which burrows into the skin of man (also called the 'sand flea' or 'chigoe flea') |
| | | | |
| | *''Nosopsyllus fasciatus'' | | *''Nosopsyllus fasciatus'' |
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| | **Poultry | | **Poultry |
| | **Frons (forehead) angled anteriorly | | **Frons (forehead) angled anteriorly |
| | + | **Also called the 'sticktight' flea |
| | | | |
| | *''Archaeopsylla erinacei'' | | *''Archaeopsylla erinacei'' |