THE FLEAS OF NORTH AMERICA 23 



Rhopalopsyllus (Polygenis) sigmodoni Stewart 



Rhopqlopsyllus sigmodoni Stewart. 1930, Canad. Ent. 62: 175, pi. 15, figs. 1 

 and 2. 



Type host. — Sigmodon Jihpidus Say and Orel (cotton rat). 



Type locality. — Houston. Tex. 



Range. — Known only from Texas. 



This species is very near gicyni C. Fox, but the movable finger 

 of the clasper appears to be more slender, and there may be a differ- 

 ence in the shape of the receptaculum seminis of the two species. A 

 study of a large series of specimens coming from all the Gulf States 

 would probably show the Georgia forms merging with those of 

 Texas. The species fed readily on the arm of the describer. 



The Subfamily DOLICHOPSYLLINAE Baker 



Head either divided or not divided by development of fronto-epic-rania! 

 groove. Frontal notch, or frontal tubercle, or both notch and tubercle present 

 (although sometimes vestigial). Eye? either well developed and pigmented, 

 reduced and poorly pigmented, vestigial, or absent. Labial palpus varying 

 much in length, frequently surpassing the apex of trochanter I. Pronotal 

 comb always present, but in a few genera composed of very short, poorly pig- 

 mented spines. Antepygidial bristles varying in number on a side from 1 to 5 

 and usually in size or number as between the sexes. Plantar bristles on last 

 segment of tarsi varying much in number and position, the first pair being 

 frequently shifted ventrally so that they are out of line with the others. 



This subfamily contains more genera than any other subfamily. 20 

 being represented in North America. 



Baker (o. p. 127). in 1905. established the subfamily Dolichopsyl- 

 linae as one of four subfamilies of Pulicidae. He separated it from 

 the subfamilies Anorniopsyllinae and Pulicinae on the basis of the 

 number of antepygidial bristles present. The characters of the Doli- 

 chopsyllinae are unusually variable. Its closest affinity appears to 

 be with the Ehopalopsyllinae. from which it is especially differen- 

 tiated by the presence of a pronotal comb. 



One synonym of Dolichopsyllinae is known. Ceratophyllinae. pro- 

 posed bv Dampf ill. p. 10) in 1908 and recognized by Rothschild 

 (66. p. 58) in 1915 and Wagner (85, p. i) in 1936. A number of 

 other families or subfamilies are partly synonymous with the Doli- 

 chopsyllinae as here defined. 



Key to the North American Genera of Dolichopsyllinae 



1. With a row or patch of spinelets on inner surface of coxa III 2 



Without a row or patch of spinelets on inner surface of coxa III 4 



2. Segment V of each tarsus with 5 pairs of lateral plantar bristles; 



eyes not reduced OdontopsyUus Baker. 



Segment V of tarsus III with only 4 pairs of lateral plantar bristles 3 



3. Frons with 3 rows of setae and additional small ones 



Delotclis Jordan. 

 Frons with only 2 rows of setae Gatallagia Rothschild. 



4. None of the setae on front pigmented and thickened toward the 



base 5 



Some or all of the setae on front pigmented and spinelike or thick- 

 ened toward the base 19 



