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DESCRIPTIONS OF FLEA LARVAE (SIPHONAPTERA: CERATOPHYLLIDAE: CERATOPHYLLUS SPP.) FOUND IN THE NESTS OF SWALLOWS (AVES: PASSERIFORMES: HIRUNDINIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA, NORTH OF MEXICO

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Robert L.C. Pilgrim*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, 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 Author to whom all corresponding should be addressed (E-mail: [email protected]).

Abstract

Descriptions are provided for larvae of nine species of Ceratophyllus Curtis for which swallows in North America, north of Mexico, are recorded hosts. A detailed description is provided for the larva of Ceratophyllus celsus celsus Jordan and for other species only where there are significant differences from C. c. celsus. Ceratophyllus celsus celsus, Ceratophyllus scopulorum Holland, and Ceratophyllus petrochelidoni Wagner are characterized by a large number of anal comb (25–42) and anal mound (13–23) setae, but among themselves have not proved separable; Ceratophyllus styx riparius Jordan and Rothschild is remarkable in having two ventral plate setae on all thoracic segments as well as on the eighth and occasionally the ninth abdominal segments; Ceratophyllus idius Jordan and Rothschild and Ceratophyllus niger C. Fox characteristically display stout ventral plate setae on the thoracic segments, as seen in C. c. celsus, but have fewer anal comb and mound setae. We are unable to separate larvae of C. idius and C. niger from each other. Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank) also has few comb and mound setae, but the ventral plate setae are more slender than evident in other species treated here. Ceratophyllus diffinis Jordan and Ceratophyllus garei Rothschild, the sole Nearctic representatives of the subgenus Emmareus Smit, are characterized by their short, slender, thoracic ventral plate setae, but have not been separated from each other here. Redescriptions are provided for larvae of C. gallinae and C. garei. Descriptions for all other taxa are provided for the first time. A key is provided to the known larvae of species associated with swallows in North America, north of Mexico.

Résumé

On trouvera ici la description des larves de neuf espèces de Ceratophyllus Curtis, parasites des hirondelles en Amérique du Nord au nord du Mexique. Les larves de Ceratophyllus celsus celsus Jordan sont décrites en détail, de même que les larves d’autres espèces lorsqu’elles diffèrent significativement de C. c. celsus. Ceratophyllus celsus celsus, Ceratophyllus scopulorum Holland et Ceratophyllus petrochelidoni Wagner sont caractérisées par un grand nombre de soies sur le peigne anal (25–42) et sur la protubérance anale (13–23), mais ces espèces se sont avérées impossibles à distinguer les unes des autres. Ceratophyllus styx riparius Jordan et Rothschild se distingue par la présence de deux soies sur la plaque ventrale de tous les segments thoraciques ainsi que sur le huitième et quelquefois le neuvième segment abdominal; Ceratophyllus idius Jordan et Rothschild et Ceratophyllus niger C. Fox portent des soies épaisses sur la plaque ventrale des segments thoraciques, comme C. c. celsus, mais ont moins de soies sur le peigne anal et sur la protubérance anale. Il est impossible de distinguer les larves de C. idius et de C. niger. Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank) n’a que peu de soies sur le peigne anal et sur la protubérance anale, mais les soies de la plaque ventrale sont plus fines que celles qu’on observe chez les autres espèces traitées ici. Ceratophyllus diffinis Jordan et Ceratophyllus garei Rothschild, les seuls représentants du sous genre Emmareus Smit dans la zone néarctique, sont caractérisés par leurs soies courtes et fines sur la plaque thoracique ventrale, mais ces espèces n’ont pas été séparées l’un de l’autre ici. Les larves de C. gallinae et de C. garei sont décrites de nouveau, mais les descriptions de tous les autre taxons sont inédites. Une clef permettra d’identifier les larves connues des espèces associées aux hirondelles de l’Amérique du Nord au nord du Mexique.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2000

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