THE FLEAS OF NORTH AMERICA 25 



The Genus Odontopsyllus Baker 



Odontopsyllus Baker, 1905, U. S. NatL Mus. Proc. 29: 131. Type, Pulex multi- 

 spinosus Baker (by original designation). 



Frontal tubercle small, angulate at apex. Eyes well developed and well 

 pigmented. Labial palpus not reacbing apex of coxa I, 5-segmented, Pronotal 

 comb with the usual long, black spines, which are acuminate apically. Coxa 

 III with a patch of spinelets on inner surface ; segment I of posterior tarsus 

 shorter than II, III, and IV taken together ; last segment of each tarsus with 

 5 pairs of lateral plantar bristles; apical bristle on segment II of tarsus III 

 not reaching apex of segment V. Abdomen with apical spines not extending 

 down almost to level of spiracles. Antepygidial bristles 3 on each side in 

 female, 2 in male. Female with but ] receptfculum seminis and short or long 

 stylet. In male, sternal plate VIII large, but slightly modified and bearing 

 a bunch of subapical setae; sternal plate IX with vertical processes, distal 

 lobe, and median apophysis; movable finger broad, with some long setae but 

 no pigmented spines. 



This genus was described by Baker to include four species, two of 

 which, charlottensis Baker and telegoni Rothschild, have been re- 

 moved to other genera. It now includes only three North American 

 species, of medium to large size, having rabbits and hares for their 

 natural hosts. 



Odontopsyllus dentatus (Baker) 



Ceratophijllus dentatus Baker, 1904, U. S. Natl. Mus. Proc. 27: 390. 

 Odontopsyllus dentatus Baker, 1905, U. S. Natl. Mus. Proc. 29: 131. 

 Ceratophyllus ponerus Rothschild, 1909, Novitates Zool. 16: 54, pi. 8, fig. 5. 

 (New synonymy.) 



Type host. — Lynx canadensis Kerr (Canada lynx). 



Type locality. — Moscow, Idaho. 



Range. — Western part of the United States. 



Ceratophyllus ponerus Rothschild was described from a single 

 female. In the United States National Museum are five males and 

 two females which were identified as C . ponerus by Karl Jordan. 

 These specimens were taken in the State of Washington. A com- 

 parison of the male specimens with the male type of Odontopsyllus 

 dentatus (Baker) shows that the two species are the same. The type 

 host of dentatus is evidently not a natural one. The natural hosts 

 are rabbits. 



Odontopsyllus dentatus (Baker) has been erroneously synonymized 

 with Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc) by Dalla Torre (10, p. 13). 



Odontopsyllus multtspinosus (Baker) 



Pulex multispinosus Baker, 1898, N. Y. Ent. Soc. Jour. 6: 54. 



Ceratophyllus multispinosus Baker, 1904, U. S. Natl. Mus. Proc. 27:389, pi. 12, 



figs. 1-5. 

 Odontopsyllus multispinosus Baker, 1905, U. S. Natl. Mus. Proc. 29: 129; I. 



Fox, 1940, Fleas of the- Eastern United States, p. 47, pi. 7, figs. 29, 30, 



and 31. 



Type host.—Sylvilagus floridanus (Allen) (cottontail rabbit). 



Type locality. — Raleigh, N. C. 



Range.— Eastern part of the United States. 



This large, dark-brown flea can be easily distinguished by the 

 characters of the movable finger of the male, which is very broad, 

 triangular, and possesses a row of about five long setae on its lower 

 margin. 



