THE FLEAS OF NORTH AMERICA 119 



Juxtapulex porcinus (Jordan and Rothschild) 



(Fig. 12, B) 



Pulex porcinus Jordan and Rothschild, 1923, Ectoparasites 1: 312, figs. 315-317. 

 Juxtapulex porcinus Wagner, 1933, Berlin Zool. Mus. Mitt. 18: 341. 



Type host. — Tayassu sp. (white-lipped peccary). 



Type locality. — Texas. 



Range. — Known only from Texas. 



This species is easily distinguished from its congener by the shape 

 of the front margin of the head, which is broadly rounded instead of 

 angulate. Juxtapulex porcinus is of particular interest because of the 

 nature of the genal comb. This is made up of from two to three short, 

 pale, triangular spines which appear to be true morphological spines, 

 since none of them is provided with a seta pit or a trichopore. The 

 anterior spine of the genal comb, when present, is smaller than the 

 other two. It may be represented by a vestigial spur at the base of the 

 second spine. 



The Family Stephanocircidae Wagner 



Head divided by fronto-epicranial groove into an anterior and a posterior 

 part. Gena greatly enlarged, being extended dorsally in front of antennal 

 groove and divided by a vertical suture. Forehead with a helmet composed of 

 greatly reduced front and anterior parts of enlarged genae; not elongated and 

 without ventral flaps. Eyes reduced or vestigial. Postantennal region of head 

 with 1 or more transverse, dorsal incrassations. Thorax not greatly reduced, 

 thoracic terga taken together longer than tergum I of abdomen. Typical ab- 

 dominal terga with more than 1 transverse row of setae. Antepygidial bristles 

 present. Abdominal apical spines usually present. Abdominal combs present or 

 absent. Females without a reduced number of abdominal spiracles, and when 

 gravid not greatly distended. 



This family, as here recognized, is composed of five genera, three 

 of which are Neotropical and two Australian. While members of 

 the family Stephanocircidae exhibit probably the greatest modifica- 

 tions of the head of any group of the fleas, they are in most respects 

 generalized. 



The Family Hectopsyllidae Baker 



Head not divided into an anterior and a posterior part by fronto-epicranial 

 groove. Gena not greatly enlarged and not divided by transverse suture. Fore- 

 head without helmet, not elongated, and not bearing ventral flaps. Eyes pres- 

 ent, pigmented. Both cephalic and pronotal combs absent. Postantennal 

 region without dorsal incrassations. Thorax greatly reduced; thoracic terga 

 taken together not so long as tergum I of abdomen. Abdomen almost nude, 

 but some or all of its segments with a single transverse row of small setae. 

 Antepygidial bristles absent. Abdominal apical spines and combs absent. Fe- 

 males sometimes with a reduced number of abdominal spiracles. Gravid fe- 

 males greatly distended. 



This family is not divided into subfamilies. 



Hectopsyllidae was established by Baker (^, p. 375) in 1904 for the 

 single genus Hectopsylla Frauenfeld, 1860. As recognized in this 

 work it includes three other known genera, Echidnophaga Olliff, 

 Rhynchopsyllus Haller, and Tung a Jarocki. The following five 

 synonyms of Hectopsyllidae are known: Sarcopsyllidae Taschen- 

 berg, 1880, based on Sarcopsylla Westwood, 1840, = Tung a Jarocki, 



