THE FLEAS OF NORTH AMERICA 35 



Type host. — Neotoma sp. (wood rat). 



Type locality. — Boulder Creek, Calif. 



Range. — The species is widely distributed in the United States and 

 Canada, forming several subspecies. This particular subspecies is 

 known only from California. 



The original description of sexdentatus was based upon a single 

 Jot of material from the type locality. It is accompanied by several 

 detail figures, but does not properly 'treat of the characters now con- 

 sidered of subspecific value. The various subspecies of sexdentatus 

 parasitize different species of Neotoma. 



Orchopeas sexdentatus agilis (Rothschild) 



Ceratophyllus agilis Rothschild, 1905. Novitates Zool. 12: 167, pi. 7, figs. 16-18. 

 Ceratophyllus sexdentatus agilis Jordan, 1929, Novitates Zool. 3^: 30. 



Type host. — Neotoma cinerea (Ord) (wood rat). 



Type locality. — Banff, Alberta, 



Range. — Known from British Columbia and Alberta. 



Rothschild's description of agilis was based on a large series of 

 both sexes taken from several localities and is accompanied by three 

 detail drawings. He states: 



Both sexes differ from sexdentatus in the longest apical bristle on the hinder 

 side of the first hindtarsal segment reaching nearly to the apex of the second 

 segment. 



Orchopeas sexdentatus cascadensis Jordan 



Orchopeas sexdentatus cascadensis Jordan, 1939, Novitates Zool. 41: 317, 

 fig. 267. 



Type host. — Neotoma fuscipes fuscipes Baird "(wood rat). 



Type locality. — Odell Lake, Oreg. 



Range. — Western part of the United States. 



The description was based on females and accompanied by a figure 

 illustrating the variation in sterum VII, particularly its process above 

 the sinus. This process is acutely angulate apically in cascadensis 

 whereas it is long and obtuse in agilis. 



Orchopeas sexdentatus nevadensis (Jordan) 



Ceratophyllus sexdentatus nevadensis Jordan, 1929, Novitates Zool. 35: 30, pi. 1, 

 fig. 4. 



Type host. — Mustela arizonensis (Mearns) (weasel). 



Type locality. — Pine City, Calif. 



Range. — Known from California and Utah. . 



The female of O rchopeas sexdentatus nevadensis is not always dif- 

 ferentiated from that of 0. s. sexdentatus, but the male is distinct, 

 having the anterior lobe of sternal plate IX longer and the spinelike 

 seta situated beyond its middle. The type host of nevadensis is not 

 a natural one. The subspecies probably is a natural parasite of wood 

 rats. 



Orchopeas sexdentatus pennsylvanicus (Jordan) 



Ceratophyllus sexdentatus pennsylvanicus Jordan, 1928, Novitates Zool. 34: 184, 

 figs. 8 and 9. 



Type host. — Neotoma pennslyvanica Stone (wood rat). 

 Type locality. — Rolling Rock Club, Ligonier, Pa. 



