October, '15] ILLIXGWORTH: HABITS OF THE CHICKEN FLEA 



495 



After building the cocoon the larva remained doubled up inside for 

 three to four days before pupating. The pupal stage lasts from six 

 to nine days; the pupa beginning to turn dark several days before 

 emerging. The entire life cycle, from egg to adult flea, was found to 

 vary from twenty-two to twentj^-nine days under ordinary summer 

 conditions in Hawaii. 



Control 



Since the development in the early stages of this species follows so 

 closely that of other fleas, standard methods of control were tried. 

 The water treatment proved very successful. After washing out the 

 roosting place each morning for a week, the fleas on the chickens 

 became noticeably less; and after two weeks of such treatment they 

 had practically disappeared. 



Investigation shows that these fleas are most troublesome in dry 

 localities and that wet districts, near the mountains are not troubled. 



A Japanese, who has about two thousand fowls, located in the dry 

 district, told the writer that he had no trouble with fleas, but that 

 he did not know why he was free from them. 



It was observed that he swept out the roosting places each morning; 

 placed the droppings in water to macerate before applying them to 

 his garden; and, that he used the sprinkling pot freely in the houses to 

 keep down the dust. His treatment is one that recommends itself, 

 not only for the general sanitation and health of the fowls, but also, 

 it is a most satisfactory means of destroying the fleas. 



Air-slacked lime has also proved very destructive to the developing 

 fleas, and may often be used to advantage about the poultry house. 

 A Httle of the dust-lime in the nests and other places, where it is 

 better not to use water, keeps not only fleas but other pests from 

 developing. In locations where water is scarce, the lime may be 

 substituted, placing it under the roosts, etc» 



Taxonomic Bibliography 



1875. Westtv^ood. Description of a Xew Pulicidous Insect from Ceylon, Ento- 



mological Monthly Magazine, Vol. II, p. 246. 

 1886. Olliff. Family Pulicidae, Proc. Linn Soc. N. S. Wales, p. 172. Genus 



Echidnophaga created for the species ambulans, which was found infesting 



the Echidna. 



1903. Enderlein. ArgiopsyUa N. G. for Sarcopsylla gallinacea. Valdivia Exp., 



iii, p. 263. 



1904. Baker. Revision of American Siphonaptera. Xeslopsylla N. G. for 



Sarcopsylla gallinacea. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 

 p. 374, also p. 434. 



1906. Jordan and Rothschild. Revision of the SarcopsylUdse. (University of 

 Liverpool.) 



