THE FLEAS OF XORTH AMERICA 



9 



The eighth abdominal segment is practically unmodified in the 

 males of some genera. In the males of most genera, however, the 

 eighth sternal plate is much modified. It may be greatly reduced 



teraal plate s 

 aatep^idiaL briste / 



tergal plate ik \ / / steTmL P^ 3 



tergal plate tze • 

 pj^ridiurri 



/process 

 / of clasper 



iblef 



movable J mcjer 



acetabular 

 bristle 



pararaere 



> distal 

 lob< 



x sternal plates 



sternal plate 



VTTT 



Figuee 3. — Modified terminal abdominal segments of a male flea, Nosopsyllus 

 fasciatus, with parts separated from one another so as to show their struc- 

 ture more clearly. 



in size, or it may be extended into a long, posteriorly directed process 

 or have other modifications. The eighth sternal plate may be some- 

 what rudimentary in the female. 



