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Descriptions of flea larvae (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae, Ctenophthalmidae, Leptopsyllidae) of the specific parasites of the mountain beaver (Rodentia: Aplodontidae) in North America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Robert L.C. Pilgrim  and
Terry D. Galloway
Robert L.C. Pilgrim
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
Terry D. Galloway*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: Terry_Galloway@umanitoba.ca).
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Abstract

The larvae of the four species of primary flea parasites of the mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa (Rafinesque), are described and illustrated for the first time, and a key to their identification is provided. The larva of Hystrichopsylla schefferi Chapin is very large, with a total body length of more than 10 mm in the late third instar. Its mandible, with a series of marginal teeth along a scoop-shaped tip, is characteristic of members of the formerly recognized subgenus Hystroceras. The larvae of Paratyphloceras oregonensis Ewing and Trichopsylloides oregonensis Ewing are very similar to one another, but the former is much larger, with a total body length of about 8 mm in the late third instar, compared with 5 mm for the latter. These two species can also be separated in all instars on the basis of the setation on the abdominal segments. The larva of Dolichopsyllus stylosus (Baker) is extraordinary. The mandible bears two enormous, tusklike setae on a swollen base, the hypopharynx is a spiny, trilobed structure without setae, and there are five processes on the labial palps instead of the four typical in other species.

Résumé

On trouvera ici la première description des larves de quatre espèces de puces parasites primaires du castor de montagne, Aplodontia rufa (Rafinesque), ainsi que des illustrations et un clef d'identification des espèces. La larve d'Hystrichopsylla schefferi Chapin est très grande et elle atteint plus de 10 mm de longueur vers la fin de son troisième stade. Sa mandibule, qui porte une série de dents marginales à son extrémité en forme de cuiller, est caractéristique des membres de l'ancien sous-genre Hystroceras, maintenant non reconnu. Les larves de Paratyphloceras oregonensis Ewing et de Trichopsylloides oregonensis Ewing sont très semblables, mais la première est beaucoup plus grande avec une longueur totale de 8 mm vers la fin du troisième stade, alors que la seconde atteint seulement 5 mm. Les deux espèces se distinguent aussi à tous les stades par la pilosité de leurs segments abdominaux. La larve de Dolichopsylla stylosus (Baker) est remarquable. La mandibule porte deux soies énormes en forme de crocs fixées sur une base enflée, l'hypopharynx forme une structure trilobée, épineuse, mais glabre et les palpes labiaux portent cinq diverticules au lieu des quatre habituels chez les autres espèces.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 139 , Issue 4 , August 2007 , pp. 489 - 509
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2007

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