2l6 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



[May, '09 



A Parasite Found on a Flea. 

 By Passed Assistant Surgeon CARROL Fox, P.H. and M.H.S. 



Oakland, California. 



During the examination of thousands of specimens of rat 

 fleas, there was observed on three occasions a very small mite 

 attached to the female of the Ceratophyllus fasciatus. On the 

 first occasion but one mite was present, but subsequently two 

 females were found, one with five and the other with seven 

 mites attached. These mites were able to move about freely 

 on the surface of the flea, but usually seemed to cling with 

 their hind legs or sucking discs to one segment, of the flea, 



the anterior legs being free, thus 

 permitting the other segments to 

 move freely beneath them. At 

 first it was thought that this 

 might be a true parasite of the 

 flea, possibly belonging to the 

 family Canestriniidae, but the 

 mere fact of having examined 

 thousands of specimens of fleas 

 and only encountering this inite 

 three times would of itself nega- 

 tive such a possibility and it is 

 therefore thought that the mite 

 under consideration is probably 

 Parasite found on a Flea. the hypopial stage of the family 



Tyroglyphidae. It is the first time I think than an Acarina 

 has been reported from the Siphonap tera. 



Unfortunately the mite was not carefully studied while alive, 

 and after mounting it was found difficult to make out its anatomj^. 

 Its size is .210 x .130 mm. There is a demarkation between 

 the cephalothorax and abdomen. The mouth parts are re- 

 tracted and very indistinct There are four pairs of legs, the 

 two anterior and the two posterior being widely separated. 

 The first and second legs terminate in a hook, as does also 

 probably the third. The tarsal joint of the last leg has a long 

 hair. Some of the segments of this and the other legs also 

 contain a few hairs. Ventrally towards the end of the abdo- 

 men are five discs, which probably serve as sucking discs. 



