INSECTA BRITANNICA. 



DIPTERA. 



SUCTOKLDEA. 

 FAMILY I. PULICID^E. 



The characters of Suctoridea, in Vol. I. p. 4 of this work, will also 

 serve for the Pulicida, which is the only Family in that division. 



Genus I. PULEX. 



PULEX, L. S. N. ii. 1021 (1753); Latr. ; Lea. ; Duges ; Bouche ; Newrn. 

 Pulex et Ceratophyllus aut Ceratopsyllus, Curt. Pulex et Ischnopsyl- 

 lus, Westw. 



Corpus compressum, coriaceum, nitens, setosum. Oculi parvi, rotundi, 

 simplices. Mandibulse setiformes, compressae, marginibus serrulatis. 

 Lingua nulla. Maxillae parvae, lamelliformes, coriacese, subtriangu- 

 lares. Palpi maxillares 4-articulati. Labium parvum, membrana- 

 ceum. Mentum minutum. Palpi labiales triarticulati. Antennae 

 4-articulatae ; articulus quartus incisuris trans versis. Abdomen seg- 

 mentis septem. Pedes longi; postici saltatorii; coxsemagnse; fe- 

 mora robusta ; tibiae setosse ; ungues validi. 



Body compressed, hard, shining, setose. Eyes small, round, simple. 

 Mandibles composed of two elongated, flattened setae, with a central 

 rib, and with the edges finely serrulated. Lingua obsolete. Maxillae 

 small, lamelliform, coriaceous, subtriangular. Maxillary palpi four- 

 jointed, attached to the base of the maxillae. Labium small, membra- 

 nous. Mentum smaller than the labium. Labial palpi three-jointed, 

 seated on the apex of the labium. Antennae four-jointed ; third joint 

 very minute ; fourth with transverse incisions, and apparently articu- 

 lated. Prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax short. Abdomen com- 



VOL. IV. B 



