Fleas (Siphonaptera)

The fleas are a well known order of blood feeding insects, attacking mammals and birds. They bear some similarities to Mecoptera and Diptera, but their relationship to other insects is uncertain. The order name is based on the Greek words siphon (tube), a (without), and pteron (wing).

Classification

There are several classification systems available, with anywhere from five to ten superfamilies containing about 16 families. Following is a list of families containing about 2,300 species:

• Class: Insecta

  • Order: Siphonaptera

    • Family: Pulicidae – common fleas

    • Family: Tungidae

    • Family: Rhopalopsyllidae – club fleas

    • Family: Malacopsyllidae

    • Family: Vermipsyllidae – carnivore fleas

    • Family: Hystrichopsyllidae – rodent fleas

    • Family: Coptopsyllidae

    • Family: Pygiopsyllidae

    • Family: Stephanocircidae

    • Family: Macropsyllidae

    • Family: Xyphiopsyllidae

    • Family: Ancistropsyllidae

    • Family: Chimaeropsyllidae

    • Family: Ischnopsyllidae – bat fleas

    • Family: Leptopsyllidae – scaled fleas

    • Family: Ceratopsyllidae – bird and...