Skip to main content

Fleas (Siphonaptera)

  • Chapter
Veterinary Entomology

Abstract

The fleas (order Siphonaptera) are small, wingless, obligate bloodfeeding insects. Over 95% of flea species are ectoparasites of mammals, while the others are ectoparasites of birds. The order is relatively small with about 2500 described species, almost all of which are morphologically extremely similar.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Further Reading

  • Bibikora, V.A. (1977) Contemporary views on the interrelationships of fleas and the pathogens of human and animal diseases. Annual Review of Entomology, 22, 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, M.W. (1989) Biology of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis. Companion Animal Practice — Parasitology/Pathobiology, 19, 23–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, M.W. and Rust, M.K. (1994) The cat flea: biology, ecology and control. Veterinary Parasitology, 52, 1–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gullan, P.J. and Cranston, P.S. (1994) The Insects. An Outline of Entomology, Chapman & Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, G.P. (1964) Evolution, classification and host relationships of Siphonaptera. Annual Review of Entomology, 9, 123–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, D.A. (1967) The mating behaviour of the hen flea, Ceratophilus gallinae (Schrank) (Siphonaptera: Insecta). Animal Behaviour, 15, 82–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, D.A. (1968) The host finding behaviour of the hen flea Ceratophilus gallinae (Schrank) (Siphonaptera). Parasitology, 58, 403–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R.E. (1972) Notes on the geographic distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera. Part 1. Pulicidae. Journal of Medical Entomology, 9, 511–20.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R.E. (1993) Fleas (Siphonaptera), in Medical Insects and Arachnids (eds R.P. Lane and R.W. Crosskey), Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 529–75.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rothschild, M. (1965) Fleas. Scientific American, 213, (6), 44–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rothschild, M. (1975) Recent advances in our knowledge of the order Siphonaptera. Annual Review of Entomology, 20, 241–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rothschild, M., Schlein, Y., Parker, K. and Sternberg, S. (1972) The jump of the oriental rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis (Roths.)}. Nature, 239, 45–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soulsby, E.J.L. (1982) Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals, Baillière Tindall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traub, R. (1972) The relationships between the spines, combs and other skeletal features of fleas (Siphonaptera) and the vestiture, affinities and habits of their hosts. Journal of Medical Entomology, 9, 601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traub, R. and Starcke, H. (1980) Fleas, A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urquhart, G.M., Armour, J., Duncan, J.L., Dunn, A.M. and Jennings, F.W. (1987) Veterinary Parasitology, Longman Scientific & Technical, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wall, R., Shearer, D. (1997). Fleas (Siphonaptera). In: Veterinary Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5852-7_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5852-7_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-61510-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5852-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics