Corresponding author: Michael W. Hastriter (
Academic editor: T. Galloway
A redescription of the genus
Acosta R, Hastriter MW (2017) A review of the flea genus
The flea genus
Specimens were obtained on loan from the following institutions:
The most stable and representative characters for the genus
Frons broadly rounded, without frontal tubercle. Inter-antennal suture (falx) well developed in both male and female. Antennal groove shallow, opened posteriorly. Antenna asymmetrical, extending onto prosternosome in male, female antenna shorter. Margin of pedicel with short setae, none extending much beyond base of clavus. Occipital area with three oblique rows of setae. Pre-antennal area (anterior to eye) with two rows of setae. Head lacking setae below or posterior to eye. Eye elliptical and pigmented; central unpigmented sinus present. Eye contiguous with two overlapping, darkly pigmented spines; lateral anterior spine broader and shorter than longer narrow mesal spine. Maxilla very elongated, extending half the length of forecoxa. Labial palpus long, extended to or beyond apex of trochanter. Pronotum with complete row of long setae anterior to 14–18 broad, bluntly pointed ctenidial spines. Mesonotal collar with several pseudosetae per side. Pleural arch well developed [an unusual characteristic for a true nest flea,
Distribution of
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* Reference to “civet cat” in text likely refers to
X = Represents host/parasite records for which fleas were examined in the present in study.
† = Represents host/parasite flea records reported in other studies and were nott examined in our study.
The apico-ventral margin of the basimere is entire, without a sinus, a feature shared only by
The description of
Males of
Known only from type material from Popocatépetl mountain, Mexico. Specimens were taken from two different hosts:
Males differ from
Males of
Tipton and Mendez (1968) described
During studies on plague in the Western United States by the U.S. Army in the mid-1970s, the junior author (MWH) identified two specimens (previously unreported) of
In the latter years of his life, Dr. Glenn Haas concentrated his studies on the fleas in nests of small mammals, primarily the nests of
The key to females of
1 | Ventral margin of basimere without a well-defined sinus |
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– | Ventral margin of basimere with a well-defined sinus dorsal to the acetabulum. Sinus distinctly as deep as wide and rounded at base of sinus ( |
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2 | Apical ventral margin of distal arm of S-IX with three long bent spiniform setae |
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– | Apex of distal arm of S-IX without long setae |
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3 | Apex of distal arm of S-IX broadening, wider than proximal area. Anterior margin of distal arm with hyaline lobe. Crochet acutely pointed |
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– | Distal arm wider at base than apex (gradual tapering towards apex). Without hyaline lobe on anterior margin of distal arm of S-IX. Crochet blunt at apex |
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4 | Apex of basimere rounded. Apical ventral margin of distal arm of S-IX with two to four long, curved spiniform setae |
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– | Apex of basimere angular. Distal arm of S-IX without modified curved setae |
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To the curators who loaned the specimens and type material studied herein: John E. Rawlins, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA; Nancy Adams (deceased), David G. Furth, and Floyd Shockley, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C; Juan J. Morrone, Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, Mexico, D.F. Appreciation is expressed to Jesús A. Fernández for hand carrying material to and from the USA and special thanks to Jarom Randall, Geospatial Analysis Data and Information Specialist, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah for preparation of the distribution map. We are grateful to Terry D. Galloway, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and Ralph P. Eckerlin, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia for their valuable reviews and suggestions during the editorial process. To CONACyT (grant 200243) for supporting the senior author’s doctoral studies and Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT-UNAM) IN205408 and IN214012, the Museo de Zoología, and to Michael F. Whiting and Shawn Clark, Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, for provision of working spaces, equipment, supplies, and general support required for this work.