FLEAS AS PESTS TO MAN AND ANIMALS. 1 
THE STICKTIGHT FLEA. 
The sticktight flea, or southern chicken flea, is probably the most 
important of our live-stock 1n- 
festing species. This form at- 
tacks a number of different hosts, 
including poultry, dogs, cats, 
and some wild animals. As has 
been stated, the adult fleas re- 
main during the greater part 
of their lives attached to the 
host animal. On dogs and cats 
they are largely found on the 
ears, particularly along the 
edges. In the case of poultry 
infestations fleas are most com- 
mon on the heads of the hosts, 
where they are to be seen in 
groups or patches. This habit 
of attaching in clusters seems 
to be well marked, and an in- 
5.—Head of rooster infested with the 
sticktight flea. Somewhat reduced, (Au- 
thor’s illustration.) 
fested fowl often may be recognized at a considerable distance by 
the dark flea-covered areas about the eyes, comb, and wattles. Fig- 
Itc. 6.—The sticktight flea: Adult female. 
(Author’s illustration. ) 
Much enlarged. 
ure 5 illustrates the 
usual mode of in- 
festation on a 
chicken’s head, and 
figure 6 shows one 
of the fleas much 
enlarged. When the 
fleas are excessively 
abundant they may 
be found in similar 
patches on the neck 
and various parts 
of the body. 
This flea is most 
common and of 
greatest importance 
in the Southern 
and Southwestern 
States. It has been 
reported as injuri- 
ous to poultry as far north as Kansas. The injury is most marked 
in young chickens, which when fairly heavily infested often die 
