20 



BULLETIN 260, XJ. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGKICULTUBE. 



additional irritant which makes sleep impossible. Equally as im- 

 portant as the annoyance is the fact that fleas of all sorts are under 

 suspicion at present as possible carriers of bacteria, parasites, and 

 diseases of various sorts. We know that the dog flea and the human 

 flea, as well as the rat flea, are capable of transmitting bubonic 

 plague to man; that the dog flea, as .already noted, transmits the 

 tapeworm Difylidimn caninuTn to man; and we are warranted in 

 suspecting that additional study will add other counts to this indict- 

 ment against fleas. In the meantime our actual knowledge and strong 

 suspicion are ample grounds for avoiding fleas and the flea-bearing 



Fig. 12. — Dog flea (Ctenocephalus canis) : a. Egg; 6, larva in cocoon; c, pupa; d, adult; 

 e, mouth-parts of same from side ; f, antenna ; g, labium from below. 6, c. C, Much 

 enlarged ; a, e, f, g, more enlarged. (From Howard, Bureau of Entomology.) 



dog. It is comparatively easy to avoid annoyance from fleas in the 

 absence of dogs or cats around a dwelling. Where dogs and cats are 

 present it is more difficult and the animals must be closely watched 

 and given appropriate treatment from time to time. For adequate 

 protection it is essential that stray dogs and dogs belonging in the 

 neighborhood should be prevented from becoming habitual visitors 

 and utilizing the porch and hammock as sleeping quarters. 



The chicken flea {Echidnophaga galUnacea) , a common pest in 

 some of the Southern States, frequently infests dogs. Here, again, 

 the remedies lie in the proper handling of dogs by their owners and 

 the elimination of ownerless dogs or dogs whose irresponsible^ owners 



