HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA 



327 



the same species in Italy, Zschokke in France, Lutz and Magalhaes 

 in South America, and Packard in North America : a total of twelve 

 cases, five from America, the rest from Europe (Ransom). 



According to Grassi and Rovelli the larval stage lives in a small 

 moth (Asopia farinalis), as well as in its larva, in an" orthopteron 

 (Anisolabis annulipes), and in coleoptera (Ads spinosa and Scaurus 

 striatus). Experimental infections have been successful on rats as 



FIG. 231. Hymenolepis diminuta: cysticercoid from the rat fa&(Ceralophyllus fasciatus) 

 a, remains of primary vesicle ; b, fibrous layer ; c, radially striated layer resembling cuticle ; 

 d, layer of columnar cells; e, parenchymatous layer of irregularly disposed cells; /", parenchy- 

 matous layer. (Stephens, after Nicjll and Minchin.) 



well as on human beings. In America other species of insects may 

 be the intermediary hosts. 



Nicoll and Minchin 1 found in the body cavity of 4 per cent, 

 of rat fleas (Ceratophyllus fasciatus) the cysticercoid o f Hymenolepis 

 diminuta. That it belonged to this species was shown by its unarmed 

 rostellum and by feeding; 340 fleas were fed to white rats and fourteen 



1 Proc. ZooL Soc. t 1911, p. 9. 



