44 



FLEAS. 



House Flea, Pulex irritans, Linn. 

 Cat and Dog Flea. Pulex serraticeps, Gerv. 



PuLEx IRKITANS, larva, and pupa — all much magnified.* 



On September 22nd, in the past season, my attention was very 

 urgently directed to an outbreak of what on examination proved to be 

 male and female Fleas, but in such numbers and so pervading the 

 district reported from, that our common house and domestic pests 

 had not been recognised. On mentioning the occurrence to another 

 correspondent, information was sent me of the appearance of similar 

 annoyance, although not on such a great scale, in other localities, 

 these infestations presumably being all due to the long drought, which 

 left the haunts of Flea maggots round farm or homestead in the dry 

 condition most favourable for their feeding and progress, instead of 

 this being checked, as in common seasons, by ordinary rainfall and 

 plentiful supply of water being available to wash their lurking-places, 

 respectively out of doors or under shelter, into a state wholly injurious 

 to them. 



Most of us are well acquainted with the common Fleas as minute, 

 flattish, brown, shiny insects, blood-sucking in their habits, and with 

 the power of taking tremendous leaps. But very few in comparison 

 know that the Flea in its early condition is as different from the 

 perfect insect as a fly maggot is from a fly. It is a slender, whitish, 



* From figure 76, p. 141, of 'Insects Affecting Domestic Animals.' U.S.A. 

 Department of Agriculture, Washington. 1896. 



