PULEX. FLEA. 
Generic Character. 
Legs six, formed for leaping;. 
Eyes two. 
Antemice filiform. 
Mouth furnished with an in- 
flected, setaceous snout, 
concealing a piercer. 
Abdomen compressed. 
I 
T^HE present genus is one of the most singular 
in the order Aptera. The Pulex irritans or com- 
mon Flea, so well known in its complete state in 
every region of the globe, is remarkable for under- 
going the several changes experienced by the 
major part of the Insect race of other tribes, being 
produced from an egg, in the* form of a minute 
worm or larva, which changes to a chrysalis, in 
order to give birth to the perfect animal. The 
female Flea deposits, or rather, drops her eggs, at 
distant intervals, in any favourable situation: they 
are very small, of an oval shape, of a white co- 
lour, and a polished surface. From these, in the 
space of six days, are hatched the larvas, which are 
destitute of feet, of a lengthened, worm-like shape. 
Fedcs sex, saltatorii. 
Ocidi duo. 
Antennae filiformes. 
Os rostro inflexo, setaceo, 
acLileum recondente. 
Abdomen compressum. 
