Four species found on rats, etc.
Echidnophaga gallinacea, Westwood (Chigoe of Fowls).
[This flea is a native of tropical Asia and Africa. It lives on the fowl chiefly, attacking the neck and around the eyes. Specimens were sent me from Texas, where they not only attack poultry but also children, the latter somewhat severely. It also occurs on cats, and is found on rats in Africa. It has been introduced into North America.
[Three other species are found on rats, viz.: E. myrmecobii, Rothsch., from Australia; E. murina, Tirah, from Southern Europe; and E. liopus, Rothsch., India and Western Australia.—F. V. T.]
Family. Pulicidæ (True Fleas).
Rothschild’s classification is as follows:—
| Section I.—Club of antennæ distinctly segmented only on the hind side. | |
Key to Genera. | |
| a. No comb on head and thorax. | |
| a1. The internal incrassation, which extends from the insertion of the mid coxa into the thorax, joins the anterior edge of the mesosternite | Pulex. |
| b1. This incrassation joins the upper edge of the mesosternite | Xenopsylla. |
| b. With a comb on the pronotum only | Hoplopsyllus. |
| c. With a comb on the pronotum and at the lower edge of the head | Ctenocephalus. |
| Section II.—Club of antennæ distinctly segmented all round. | |
Key to Genera. | |
| a. Eye developed. | |
| a1. No comb on head. | |
| a2. Pygidium not projecting backwards; frons with tubercle | Ceratophyllus. |
| b2. Pygidium strongly convex, projecting backwards; frons without tubercle | Pygiopsylla. |
| b1. Two spines at angle of genæ | Chiastopsylla. |
| b. Eye vestigial or absent. | |
| a1. Abdomen without comb. | |
| a2. Hind edge of tibiæ with about eight short and several long bristles, which do not form a comb. | |
| a3. Fifth segment in fore and mid tarsi with five, and in hind tarsus with four bristles | Neopsylla. |
| b3. Fifth segment in fore and mid tarsi with four, and in hind tarsus with three lateral bristles, there being an additional pair of bristles in all the tarsi on the ventral surface in between the first pair | Ctenophthalmus. |
| b2. Hind edge of tibiæ with about twelve short and three long bristles, the short ones forming a kind of comb | Ctenopsylla. |
| b1. Abdomen with at least one comb | Hystricopsylla. |
Genus. Pulex, Linn.
Pulex irritans, L., 1758.
Male 2 to 2·5 mm. in length, females about 4 mm.; reddish or dark brown; head without bristles; thoracic and abdominal rings of bristles on the dorsal aspect, and small hairs directed backwards at the posterior margin. The barrel-shaped white eggs are deposited in cracks in the boards, sweepings, spittoons, etc.; they produce legless larvæ consisting of fourteen segments, which, after about eleven days, are transformed into pupæ; after another eleven days the flea emerges.