BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
SIPHONAPTERA (fleas)
Further Information
| Notes (MWS) | A group of small flattened insects with considerable jumping powers. The adults are obligate parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates. Most species are restricted to one or a few related host species, or species with similar habits. But (as any cat owner knows) displaced fleas are attracted to any warm-blooded animal, so any species might occasionally be found on an unexpected host. The worm-like larvae live among detritus in nests. For this reason fleas are restricted to animals that build nests or, at least, return to the same home or burrow - Ungulates (cattle, horses, deer etc) do not have fleas. |
Subtaxa
| Rank | Taxon |  |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
| Family | CERATOPHYLLIDAE (a family of fleas) | 3 | 6 | 51 | |
| Family | HISTRICHOPSYLLIDAE (a family of mammal fleas) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 36 |
| Family | PULICIDAE (a family of fleas) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
Suggested Literature
Identification Works
| Avery, R.A., 1974 (parasites of selected hosts) | Identification of Animal Parasites |
| Séguy, E., 1944 | Insectes Ectoparasites (Mallophages, Anoplures, Siphonaptères) |
| Smit, F.G.A.M., 1957 | Siphonaptera |
| Whitaker, A.P., 2007 | Fleas (Siphonaptera) |
BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk)
has 3 general literature references to SIPHONAPTERA (fleas)
SIPHONAPTERA may also be covered by literature listed under:
|
BIOTA (living things) |
Eukaryota (eukaryotes) |
ANIMALIA (animals) |
ARTHROPODA (arthropods) |
INSECTA (insects) |
BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk)
has 48 feeding and other relationships of SIPHONAPTERA (fleas)
