Insects Affecting Domestic Animals: An Account of the Species of Importance in North America ... by Herbert Osborn

Author:Herbert Osborn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Govt. print. off.
Published: 1896-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

While some portions of this account would seem to refer to the chigoe or SSarcopsj/Ua penetrans, especially that portion referring to the attacks upon man and other mammals, it no doubt includes about all that is known regarding the actions of this pest, and no one, probably,is better acquainted with the habits of the insect. There is also opportunity for confusion with the work of some of the Sarcoptea infesting fowls in cases where the observer cited was unable to make personal investigations.

Opossum Flea.

(Piilex aimalani Baker.) Tbis species, described from the opossum, is said to be closely related £o trritans ajid distiagaished from it by the mandibles and hyi>oi)harynx i>0ing- ver^ abort, uot reaching oue-half tbetengttioS the a.iit»v\ot w>iLBe.

The House Flba.

{Puleiirrilaaa Unn.)

This, perhaps the best knowu species of ilea, was described by Lin-uieus in 174G. It is distributed widely over the globe, and ofteu becomes a serious pest in houses, sometimes eveu iu spite of the most c:irefal atceutiou and cleanliness.

It is easily distinguished from the common ilea affecting dogs and cats, and which is almost as frequent an inhabitant of houses, by the fact that there are no combs of spines upon the borders of the head or pronotum. From the much less common species just mentioned which occurs on the oiwssuin, and which is most nearly allied to it, it is to be separated by the greater length of the mandibles and hypopharyux, which reach more than halfway the length of the anterior coxse, by the the siuglerow of bristles on eachabdomi-■ml segment, the large male claMperK, and the dark-reddish or piceous color.

The habits and life history of this species have long been known and fretiueiitly described. They occur particularly iu houses, secreting themselves iu bedding and clothing, and, especially at night, make their attacks on their human victims for the purpose of drawing blood.

Their eggs are deposited in out-of-tbe-way places, in the dust or lint under car- ^'°;^;,7^I,^in'''f'^'„,^|^i,»^(»'S pets, and the larvre are said to feed upon <<nnb» (orisinsT) the particles of organic matter whi<li may be found in such localities.

Bailliet states that each female deposits 8 to 12 eggs, which are whitish and ovoid and 0,7 mm. long by 0,4 mm. thick; further, that in Bummer the larva) issue iu four to six days, become pupse eleven days later, and after about twelve days in this stage become adult; the time for development from egg to adult being, therefore, about four weeks, while in winter, in a wanned room, it occupies about six weeks.

While no amount of personal cleanliness will protect an individual from their attacks in a building which is infested by them, careful attention to the removal of all dust and refuse which may harbor the tarva; will assist in keeping tliem in check. The nse of pyrethrum is very effectual iu destroying them, and may be dusted in places which harbor them. (See also remarks under "The Bog and Gat Flea.")

The BiBit Flea.

(Fulex ari«m Taach.)

According to Tascbenberg, the common tieas, affecting a great variety of birds, iDcInding the domestic fowls, are all representatv'j^s.

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