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of species in Canada: Notes and comments on the Siphonaptera Fleas have profound medical significance, and are best known for their role as vectors for plague bacilli. Their consequent historic impact on humans and society has been immeasurable. Flea vectors and bubonic plague have been recorded in Canada, and although known to occur in humans, have not been of major concern in recent years. However, the fear of plague epidemics was the stimulus for some of the early work on fleas in western Canada. As a result, our knowledge of the flea fauna of Canada is very good, largely through the efforts of G.P. Holland. He produced two monographs (1949, 1985), the most recent of which includes most species recorded for Canada, as well as those for Alaska and Greenland. Fleas today are mostly regarded as a source of annoyance to humans and to their pets. The introduced cat flea is widespread, and a primary target for pest control in the home. Although the flea fauna of Canada appears to be well known on a national scale, there is still considerable work to be done at the regional level. There are enormous gaps in the known ranges of various species across the country. There is also scant information on the seasonal dynamics and life histories of fleas. Larval taxonomy is in its infancy in Canada. Extensive or partial descriptions are available for only 23 of 154 taxa of those recorded in Canada, and six of these descriptions are for introduced species. There has been recent interest in the taxonomy of flea larvae, with descriptions of several species based on material collected in Canada (Pilgrim and Galloway 2000; Galloway and Pilgrim 2001). It is important that people continue to collect fleas and larvae from identified hosts and their nests throughout the country to add to our understanding of this important group of ectoparasites. The following account is for species known to occur in Canada. There have been some nomenclatural changes since Holland (1985), and only three species have been added to our fauna since that time. The higher classification of Lewis (1993a, 1998) is adopted here. Because of his recognition of the Ctenophthalmidae at the family level and including the Stenoponiinae, Neopsyllinae, Rhadinopsyllinae, Ctenophthalminae, Doratopsyllinae and Anomiopsyllinae, compared to Holland's Ctenophthalminae (as part of the Hystrichopsyllidae), species totals cited in Holland (1979) do not compare readily with those below. When making comparisons of Holland's (1979) figures with those cited here, it is also important to note that Holland, in his totals, cited all taxa (including subspecies) known for Canada as well as for Alaska and Greenland. Taxonomic and nomenclatural changes introduced by Smit (1983) in his treatment of the Ceratophyllidae were published too late for George Holland to consider and make changes to his 1985 monograph. However, the majority of these changes have now been accepted by most flea workers. They are adopted for this account, except where they have been subsequently modified (e.g. the genus Thrassis was reinstated by Lewis (1993b)). Recent monographs and regional lists of fleas in related biogeographic areas outside Canada, where flea species not yet recorded for Canada occur, and not cited in Holland (1985), include Haas et al. (1989), Lewis (1990), Larson (1997), Lewis (1998), Traub et al. (1983), and Lewis et al. (1988). Lewis' papers (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1993b; Lewis and Lewis 1985) on distribution and host preferences in fleas and on classification of the Siphonaptera are valuable as reference materials. In addition, relevant volumes (I-V, Hopkins and Rothschild 1953-1971) among the seven volumes (plus Traub et al. 1983) of the Illustrated Catalogue of the Rothschild Collection of Fleas are essential companions for anyone working with fleas in Canada. Ceratophyllidae. With 68 species, this is the largest family in Canada. It also poses some of the most difficult taxonomic problems. Most species can be readily identified using keys in Holland (1985). However, it is important to refer to Smit (1983) and Lewis (1990) for currently accepted nomenclature. Populations of Ceratophyllus spp. frequently exhibit considerable variation and this has led to confusion; the most recent review of this genus is that of Lewis and Galloway (2001). Two species have been introduced (Ceratophyllus gallinae Schrank and Nosopsyllus fasciatus Bosc); as many as 10 additional known taxa may eventually be included in the Canadian fauna. Ctenophthalmidae. The 51 taxa (48 species) found in Canada can usually be identified using keys in Holland (1985). Rhadinopsylla spp. are an exception and the genus is in need of additional collections and thorough revision (also see Smit (1957)). At least three additional species of Ctenophthalmidae are expected to occur here. Hystrichopsyllidae. As treated here, this is a relatively small group of only 9 taxa (6 species) recorded for Canada. Canadian hystrichopsyllids are particularly notable for the presence of two spermathecae in females and for the inclusion of the largest known species (Hystrichopsylla schefferi Chapin) for the order. Specimens are seldom collected and, although readily identified using Holland (1985), additional information is required to understand range limits and status of various subspecies (e.g. Hystrichopsylla dippiei ssp.). Ischnopsyllidae. Recorded species are parasites of bats and can be readily identified using Holland (1985) and Lewis (1978). Only five species are known in Canada, one of which, Myodopsylla borealis Lewis, has been reported in Canada (Chilton et al. 2000) since Holland’s (1985) monograph. Leptopsyllidae. This is a relatively small group of fleas with 14 species recorded for Canada, all of which can be identified using Holland (1985). One species is introduced (Leptopsylla segnis (Schönherr)). Ornithophaga anomala Mikulin, from western tree-hole nesting birds and Amphipsylla markovskii ewing I. Fox, recorded from Alaska, and Geusibia ashcrafti (Augustson) from pikas in Washington are possible additions to the fauna. Pulicidae. Eleven taxa (9 species) are recorded for Canada, five species of which are introduced. Phylogeny of the family has been reviewed by Cheetham (1988); most taxa are readily identified using keys in Holland (1985). Two species are periodically introduced into Canada, but there is no evidence that they have become established. The chigoe flea, Tunga penetrans (Linnaeus) is a subdermal parasite commonly encountered in parts of Africa and South America. Travellers visiting these areas may return to Canada bearing these unwelcome pests (Scholten et al. 1977; Dalton and Haldane 1990; Proctor 1994). There is also a record of the sticktight flea, Echidnophaga gallinacea (Westwood) parasitizing a migratory bird examined in Manitoba (Galloway et al. 2000). It is unlikely that this species will become established in Canada, but it will probably be encountered on other species of migratory birds as well. One additional species (Actenopsyllus suavis Jordan and Rothschild) may eventually be discovered in the nests of sea birds on the west coast. Vermipsyllidae. Only three species have been recorded for Canada, with the prospect of two additional species being found. Species are readily identified using Holland (1985).
References Cheetham, T.B. 1988. Male genitalia and phylogeny of Pulicoidea. Theses Zoologicae, vol. 8. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein. Chilton, G., M.J. Vonhof, B.V. Peterson and N. Wilson. 2000. Ectoparasitic insects of bats in British Columbia. Journal of Parasitology 86: 191-192. Dalton, M.T. and D.J.M. Haldane. 1990. Unusual dermal arthropod infestations. Canadian Medical Association Journal 143: 113-114. Galloway, T.D., A. Anduschak and R.M. Underwood. 2000. Echidnophaga gallinacea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) recorded in Canada for the first time. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Manitoba 56: 5-7. Galloway, T.D. and R.L.C. Pilgrim. 2001. New records of Ceratophyllus lari (Siphonaptera) and diagnosis of the larva. The Northeastern Naturalist 8: 491-494. Haas, G.E., N. Wilson, T.O. Osborne, R.L. Zarnke, L. Johnson and J.O. Wolff. 1989. Mammal fleas (Siphonaptera) of Alaska and Yukon Territory. Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 394-405. Holland, G.P. 1949. The Siphonaptera of Canada. Canada Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 70. Holland, G.P. 1964. Evolution, classification and host relationships of Siphonaptera. Annual Review of Entomology 9: 123-146. Holland, G.P. 1979. 43. Siphonaptera. In: H.V. Danks (Ed.) Canada and its insect fauna. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada No. 108, pp. 424-426. Holland, G.P. 1985. The fleas of Canada, Alaska and Greenland (Siphonaptera). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, No. 130. Hopkins, G.H.E. and M. Rothschild. 1953-1971. An illustrated catalogue of the Rothschild collection of fleas (Siphonaptera) in the British Museum (Natural History). 1953 - I. Tungidae, Pulicidae. 1956 - II. Coptopsyllidae, Vermipsyllidae, Stephanocercidae, Macropsyllidae, Ischnopsyllidae, Hypsophthalmidae, Xiphiopsyllidae. 1962 - III. Hystrichopsyllidae. 1966 - IV. Hystrichopsyllidae. 1971 - V. Leptopsyllidae, Ancistropsyllidae. British Museum (Natural History), London. Johnson, P.T. 1961. A revision of the species of Monopsyllus Kolenati in North America (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae). USDA, Technical Bulletin 1227, pp. 1-69, pl. 22, 151 figs. Johnson, P.T. and R. Traub. 1954. Revision of the flea genus Peromyscopsylla. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 123: 1-68. Larson, O.R. 1997. North Dakota fleas. X. An atlas of the state's siphonapterans. Institute for Ecological Studies, University of North Dakota. Research Report No. 47. Lewis, R.E. 1972. Notes of the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera Part 1. Pulicidae. Journal of Medical Entomology 9: 511-520. Lewis, R.E. 1973. Notes of the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera Part 2. Rhopalopsyllidae, Malacopsyllidae and Vermipsyllidae. Journal of Medical Entomology 10: 255-260. Lewis, R.E. 1974. Notes of the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera Part 3. Hystrichopsyllidae. Journal of Medical Entomology 11: 147-167. Lewis, R.E. 1975. Notes of the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera Part 6. Ceratophyllidae. Journal of Medical Entomlogy 11: 658-676. Lewis, R.E. 1978. A new species of Myodopsylla Jordan and Rothschild, 1911 from the northern United States, with a key to the genus (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae). Journal of Parasitology 64: 524-527. Lewis, R.E. 1990. The Ceratophyllidae: currently accepted valid taxa (Insecta: Siphonaptera). Theses Zoologicae, vol. 13. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein. Lewis, R.E. 1993a. Notes of the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera Part 8. New taxa described between 1984 and 1990, with a current classification of the order. Journal of Medical Entomology 30: 239-256. Lewis, R.E. 1993b. A new species of Thrassis from Baja California, Mexico (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae: Oropsyllinae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 101: 536-541. Lewis, R.E. 1993c. Checklist of the valid genus-group names in the Siphonaptera. Journal of Medical Entomology 30: 64-79. Lewis, R.E. and T.D. Galloway. 2001. A taxonomic review of the Ceratophyllus Curtis, 1832 of North America (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae: Ceratophyllinae). Journal of Vector Ecology 26: 119-161. Lewis, R.E. and J.H. Lewis. 1985. Notes of the geographical distribution and host preferences in the order Siphonaptera Part 7. New taxa described between 1972 and 1983, with a supraspecific classification of the order. Journal of Medical Entomlogy 22: 134-152. Lewis, R.E., J.H. Lewis and C. Maser. 1988. The fleas of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. Lewis, R.E. 1998. Résumé of the Siphonaptera (Insecta) of the world. Journal of Medical Entomology 35: 377-389. Pilgrim, R.L.C. and T.D. Galloway. 2000. Descriptions of flea larvae, Ceratophyllus spp. (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae), found in the nests of swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae) in North America. Canadian Entomologist 132: 15-37. Proctor, E.M. 1994. Tunga penetrans acquired while travelling in Africa. Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases 5: 82-83. Scholten, T., D.F.V. Brunsdon, W.M. Rogan and R.N. Richards. 1977. Unusual cases of parasitic infections. Canadian Medical Association Journal 117: 368-369. Smit, F.G.A.M. 1957. New hystrichopsyllid Siphonaptera. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Entomology 6: 41-76. Smit, F.G.A.M. 1976. A new South American ceratophyllid bird-flea. Entomologische Berichten 36: 65-76. Smit, F.G.A.M. 1983. Key to the genera and subgenera of Ceratophyllidae. In: Traub, R., M. Rothschild and J.F. Haddow. The Rothschild Collection of Fleas. The Ceratophyllidae: key to the genera and host relationships. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp. 1-36 + 205 figs. + 90 plates. Traub, R., M. Rothschild and J.F. Haddow. 1983. The Rothschild Collection of Fleas. The Ceratophyllidae: key to the genera and host relationships. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Fleas of Canada
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Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) Canadian Museum of Nature P.O. Box 3443, Station "D", Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6P4 Canada bsc@mus-nature.ca |
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