110 MISC. PUBLICATION 5 0, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



overlapped by VII, with a pair of simple, slender, slightly curved, horizontal, 

 posterior processes. Sternal plate IX of male with anterior whiplike apophysis 

 and a pair of conspicuous, lobed, setigerous, posterior processes. 



Type species. — The same as for the genus. 



Besides the type, which is a common parasite of rabbits in the east- 

 ern part of the United States, this subgenus includes Cediopsylla 

 spillmanni Jordan, a South American species. 



Cediopsylla (Cediopsylla) simplex (Baker) 



Pulex inaequaUs var. simplex Baker, 1S95, Canad. Ent. 27 : 164. 

 Cediopsylla simplex Jordan, 1925, Novitates Zool. 32 : 103. 



Type host. — Lepus sp. (hare). 



Type locality. — Michigan. 



Range. — Eastern part of the United States. 



This species, the only one of its genus in the eastern part of the 

 United States, is easily identified by its angulate forehead and sub- 

 vertical genal comb composed of eight black spines. It has been fig- 

 ured recently by I. Fox (25, p. 135). _ 



Larvae of this species were placed individually in vials which con- 

 tained a variety of materials thought to be suitable for their food or 

 environment, the object being to observe their habits and rear adults. 

 In such vials no cocoons were made by the larvae before their trans- 

 formation into the pupal instar. In one vial, in which a flea larva w T as 

 left without debris from the rabbit nest, a pupa was found. This pupa 

 was entirely concealed in the husk of a weed seed. When the husk was 

 broken open, only a naked pupa was seen. There was no evidence of 

 any silk to be found. This pupa was translucent to whitish, with the 

 legs extending free from the body and suggesting in their shape, to 

 a certain degree, the legs of an adult flea. 



Data on the total length of the life cycle of Cediopsylla (Cediop- 

 sylla) simplex were not obtained, but a larva that w T as isolated in a 

 breeding vial on April 11 had transformed into an adult flea on 

 April 29. 



The Subgenus ACEDIOPSYLLA Ewing 



Acediopsylla Ewing, 1940, Wash. Biol. Soc. Proc. 53 : 37. Type, Pulex inaequaUs 

 Baker (by original designation). 



Mandibles much enlarged, reaching considerably beyond tip of coxa I. Genal 

 comb composed of 5 spines. Sternal plate VIII of male not greatly overlapped 

 by VII, large, with a deep, broad, seta-margined, posteroventral depression and a 

 pair of expanded, broadly rounded, posterodorsal lobes. Sternal plate IX of male 

 with an anterior whiplike apophysis, a pair of curved, vertical, internal lobes, 

 and a pair of conspicuous, lobed, setigerous, posterior processes. 



This subgenus includes one species which has two varieties, both 

 parasitic on rabbits. 



Cediopsylla (Acediopsylla) inaequalis inaequalis (Baker) 



(Fig. 13, E) 



Pulex inaequalis Baker, 1895, Canad. Ent. 27 : 163 and 164. 



Cediopsylla (Acediopsylla) inaequalis Ewing, 1940, Wash. Biol. Soc. Proc. 53: 37. 



Cotype hosts. — "Cottontail and jack rabbits." 

 Type locality. — Near Grand Canyon, Ariz. 



