52 POULTRY DISEASES 



rubs, and unable to rest at night, becomes thin 

 in flesh, and weak. 



Treatment. — Tlie same as has been outlined for 

 lice and chiggers. (See page 40.) 



FLEAS AFFECTING BIRDS 



But one genus and species of flea is parasitic 

 upon the chickens. It is known, technically, as the 

 Pulex avium. It is far more common in the south- 

 ern half of the United States than it is in states 

 further north. 



Pulex Avium 



Description.— This is the common chicken flea. It resembles 

 to some extent the flea that infests dogs and man; however, 

 a microscopic study shows it to be a distinct species. Fig. 15 

 illustrates this parasite. It is provided with antennae or 

 jointed feelers. In the larval state its mouth parts are ar- 

 ranged for mastication and in the adult for wounding the 

 skin and sucking blood. It is flattened laterally, the thorax 

 being a trifle deeper than the head and is provided with three 

 pair of legs, of which the posterior pair are longer than the 

 others, giving the insect great power to jump. The free 

 extremity of the legs is provided with two booklets or claws. 

 In color the chicken flea is light to dark brown. 



Life History. — The female lays about twenty brown, oval 

 eggs in some dirty, dusty place, such as the floor, cracks, 

 crevices or nests. These eggs hatch in a few days (six to 

 twelve) if the temperature be warm, and from them come 

 wormlike larvae composed of thirteen segments each. The 

 mouth parts are arranged for mastication. The larval stage 

 lasts about eleven days; they then pass through a pupa stage 

 in a tough brown cocoon. The pupa stage lasts about four- 

 teen days, when the six-legged adult flea emerges from the 

 cocoon. 



Chicken Flea Infestation 



Symptoms. — In an outbreak of flea infestation 

 studied by the author during the summer of 1911, 

 the presence of the fleas in the flock was first noted 

 because of the insects attacking persons who en- 

 tered the hen house. Investigation revealed the 

 presence of fleas in large numbers. 



It is noteworthy in this outbreak that all the 



