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 818 

 C578 

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No. 108. 



Issued February 11, 1909. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



L. O. HOWARD. Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 



HOUSE FLEAS. 



By L. O. HovvABi). 



Judging from the specimens of fleas sent to the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology of recent years with complaints of houses being infested by 

 them, the human flea {Pulex irritans L.) is not the species most likely 



Pig. 1. — Cat and dog flea {Ctenocepluilus caiiist : u, Egg: h, larva in cocoon; c, pupa; d, 

 adult ; e, mouth-parts of samo from side ; /, antenna ; u, labium from below, b, c, d. 

 Much enlarged; a, e, f, g, more enlarged. (Author's illustration, redrawn.) 



to occur in great numbers in dwelling houses in this country, but 

 rather the common, cosmopolitan flea of the dog and cat (Ctetio- 

 cephalvs cants Curtis)." This holds especially for the eastern 



" In the earlier publications of this office, Bulletin 4 and Circular 18, this 

 species has heeu referred to under the luiuie Pulcx ncrraticeps Gerv. 

 68200—09 



