Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-fv566 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T09:26:14.603Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On a new genus and species of Siphonaptera from Nyasaland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Extract

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.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1911

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)