biology and classification of fleas

1. fleas classification
Dr/ Walaa Samir Ahmed Nasser
Rodents research department
Research institute of medical entomology

2.  Fleas are the insects forming the order Siphonaptera.
 They are wingless,
 Having mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood.
 Fleas are external parasites , living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals and birds.
 Scanning electron microscope
(SEM) picture of a flea

3. Scientific Classification :
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Endopterygota
Order: Siphonaptera

4. BODY PARTS :

5. Life Cycle :
1) Eggs
2) Larvae
3) Pupae
4) Adult

6. Micrograph of a Flea larva :

7. Classification of medically
important fleas:

8. Combed fleas
1- ceratophyllus (Nosopsyllus) fasciatus
{ Northern rat flea }
Only pronotal comb ( 1 row of spines at posterior margin
of the 1st thoracic segment ) .
pc

9. 2- Ctenocephalides ( dog and cat flea)
2 combs: pronotal comb & genal comb on lower part of head.
 Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
Genal spines are equal .
 Dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
1st genal spine is short.
GC

10. 3- Leptopsyllus ( leptopsylla)
{European mouse flea}
4 teeth in genal comb
No eye spot
Affect mice,rats,rarely man.

11. Non combed fleas
Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis)
Occular hair : in front of the eye .
Post-occipital hairs : 1 row .

12. Human flea (pulex irritans )
Occular hair : below of the eye.
Post-occipital hairs : 1 hair only.

13. Thank you