14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



where cats sleep become well filled with the eggs. These 

 hatch in about two weeks into little, white, footless, maggot- 

 like larvae (Figure 18), which have small tufts of hairs along 

 the sides. They are at first about one-sixteenth of an inch 

 long. The head is pale yellow, and the posterior end of the 

 body bears two spines. These larvae feed upon the decaying 

 particles of animal and vegetable matter always to be found 

 in the dirt in which they live. They move about by means of 

 their hairs and spines. They grow rapidly in warm weather, 

 and in about twelve days, when they mature, spin a slight 

 silken cocoon and change to a pupa, which is inactive. 

 This looks more like the mature flea and has the legs free. 

 In a short time, varying from ten to sixteen days or more, 

 according to temperature, the pupa matures, and the full 

 formed flea comes forth from the cocoon, ready and willing 

 to take care of itself. This it does by leaping upon the first 

 living creature that comes within range ; but no doubt it is 

 better suited with the cat than with other animals. This 

 mode of increase and the habits of the young will explain the 

 reason why fleas are often obtained out of doors, especially in 

 gardens frequented by cats or dogs. Such fleas are often 

 called " sand-fleas," but they are simply the progeny from eggs 

 of cat or dog fleas that have been hatched and lived in the 

 dirt or soil. They pass the winter both in the mature and 

 larval states, and perhaps also as eggs and pupae. There are 

 several broods each season. 



The Dog-Flea (Pulex canis Curtis). Figure 19. 

 This species is very similar to the last, and is considered 

 the same by several writers. It has the same form and color, 

 and the same TOWS of spines below the sides of the head and 

 on the thorax. But there appears to be some difference in 

 the mouth organs. The posterior tarsi in this species are 



Figure 17. -Cat-flea (Pulex felis Bouche), much enlarged; a, the maxillary 

 palpi arising from the bases of the maxillae, b ; c, the labial palpi ; d, the slender 

 mandibles. The labrum is not shown. From Packard's Guide. 



Figure 18. Larva of Cat-flea (Pulex felis Bouche), much enlarged; a, one of 

 the antennae more highly magnified; 6, posterior end of the body, showing the 

 two spines. From Packard's Guide. 



