868 



SIPHONAPTERA AND COLEOPTERA 



a small tooth (remains of a comb). Anal coxa is pear-shaped, 

 carrying a number of hairs on the inner posterior portion, as well 

 as in front, and carrying a row or patch of short spines near apex. 

 Greatly reduced thorax, the tergites being short, each with a row 

 of bristles, but without subapical spines on the mesonotum. 

 Mesosternite characteristic, very narrow, with ventral edge close 

 before apex, stigmata not being entirely covered. No internal rod- 

 like or cariniform incrassation from the insertion of the coxa to 

 the dorsal edge. 



Male with eighth tergite with small manubrium; clasper with 

 very large flap, on inside of which are two processes, forming a kind 

 of claw. Manubrium of clasper large, curved. Ninth sternite 

 boomerang-shaped, with its upper end pointed. Internal wire 

 like spring of ninth sternite and penis making several coils. 



Female.- — No hairs above stigma of eighth stergite. Stylet with 

 long apical bristle and short bristle near apex. Anal sternite 

 truncate ; bristles confined to the apical edge. 



Species: P. irritans Linnaeus. 



Pulex irritans Linnaeus, 1758. 



Synonyms.— Pul ex vulgaris Raius, i7io;P. afer Linnceus, 1746; 

 P. hominis Duges, 1832; P. simulans Baker, 1895; P. dugesi 

 Baker, 1904. 



This, in a much restricted sense, is the P. irritans of Linnaeus, 

 which included all fleas, but now the term is restricted to the 

 parasite of man. It is essentiall}/ an Old-World flea, those of 

 America being but distantly connected, but has become now 



Fig. 458. — Pulex irritans : Male. Fig. 459. — Pulex irritans: Female. 



cosmopolitan through trade. It appears to have been introduced 

 into the eastern tropics by European trade. It is absent from 

 the Sahara and the Haussa countries south of it, but it abounds all 

 through Africa where there are European settlements. 



The question whether there are different vaiieties on the different 

 races of mankind is not settled. Baker described a Pulex dugesi 



