Robert E. Lewis

The fleas (Siphonaptera) of Egypt. An illustrated and annotated key.

An illustrated key to the fleas of Egypt is accompanied by brief statements concerning the occurrence of each species. A complete list of species occurring in Egypt and a host/parasite list are provided. References to recent literature pertaining to the Egyptian flea fauna are included. Through the efforts of the Department of Medical Zoology, United States Naval Medical Research Unit Number Three, Cairo, Egypt, UAR, the composition of the siphonapteran fauna of Egypt is better known than that of any other eastern Mediterranean country. The present illustrated key is designed to permit ready identification of each flea species in the Egyptian fauna and to summarize noteworthy information concerning each species. Persons interested in the flea fauna of Egypt should consult the works of Hoogstraal and Traub (1963a, b, 1965a, b, 1966), Traub (1954, 1963a, b), Traub and Hoogstraal (1957), Traub and Evans (1967), and Lewis (1966, 1967). I wish to thank Dr. Harry Hoogstraal, Director of Medical Zoology, NAMRU-3, Dr. Robert Traub, Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, and Messrs. G. H. E. Hopkins and F. G. A. M. Smit of the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, England, for their many helpful suggestions. KEY TO THE FLEAS OF EGYPT 1. Either pronotal or pronotal and genal combs present 2 Neither pronotal nor genal comb present 24 2. Both pronotal and genal comb present (Figs. 1, 10, 16) 3 Only pronotal comb present (Figs. 26, 31, 37) 17 Received for publication 6 March 1967. *From Research Project MR005.09-1402.5, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Navy or of the naval service at large. t Present address: Department of Zoology and Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010. 3. Genal comb of no more than 2 spines which are blunt or rounded apically -4 Genal comb of 4 or more spines, rounded or pointed apically 10 4. Eye vestigial; spines of genal comb broad and blunt apically (Figs. 1, 4); frontal tuber present; parasites of bats 5 Eye well developed; spines of genal comb narrow and rounded apically (Figs. 10, 16, 20); frontal tuber absent; parasites of rodents and carnivores 9 5. Metepimeron with well-developed false comb of spiniform bristles 6 Metepimeron lacking false comb ---7 6. False comb of metepimeron of 14 to 16 sharp, spiniform bristles (Fig. 3); frons about as long as high .......---------Chiropteropsylla aegyptia This species is recorded only from Egypt, from bats of the genera Taphozous and Rhinopoma. False comb of metepimeron of 8 to 10 much blunter spiniform bristles (Fig. 2); frons longer than high .--.--..-Chiropteropsylla b. brockmani Except for a questionable subspecies based on one female from Iraq, this flea species, found on Lavia, Asellia, and Taphozous, is known only from Egypt and Somaliland. 7. Dorsal part of anterior margin of frons rugulose; metanotum and abdominal tergites 1 to 6 with combs .....---.. .--.--.. Ischnopsyllus consimilis A rare bat flea f the eastern Mediterranean. Typically a parasite of Pipistrellus kuhli, Hopkins and Rothschild (1956) record it from Egypt and Israel. It has since been reported from Lebanon (Lewis, 1962) and probably occurs eastward to Iraq. Dorsal margin of frons smooth; abdominal tergites conspicuously thickened anteriorly (Fig. 5), lacking combs 8

The topography of the exoskeleton of Cediopsylla simplex (Baker 1895) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). I. The head and its appendages.

: A topography of the exoskeleton of the head of Cediopsylla simplex (Baker 1895) is presented, based on an examination with the scanning electron microscope. Major sensory regions were observed on the fronto-occipital region, on the antennae, and on the maxillary palps. Sensilla basiconica were observed in all 3 regions, chemosensory hairs are absent, and unique pit sensilla were observed in the clubs of the antennae. The mouthparts are described and illustrated in detail. Other cuticular structures are illustrated, such as hairs, bristles, combs, cuticular teeth, and microtrichia. Sexual dimorphism is evident in the distribution of sensilla basiconica in the fronto-occipital regional and the clubs of the antennae. The validity of the generic name Cediopsylla Jordan 1925 is questioned.

A COLLECTION OF FLEAS (SIPHONAPTERA) FROM NORTHERN SAUDI ARABIA.

A collection from northern Saudi Arabia of 1,185 fleas of ten different species is reported. Species listed are Synosternus pallidus, S. cleopatrae, Xenopsylla nubica, X. conformis mycerini, Coptopsylla sp. n., Stenoponia tripectinata irakana/medialis, Caenopsylla laptevi, Ophthalmopsylla volgensis palestinica, Nosopsyllus theodori, and N. pringlei. The distribution of the species is discussed. Excluding the report by Sanborn and Hoogstraal (1953) on mammal and ectoparasite collections from Yemen, there is practically no information concerning the fleas of Saudi Arabia. On invitation from the Trans-Arabian Pipeline Company, two collecting trips were made to the pumping stations along the pipeline to survey the occurrence of fleas of potential medical importance. The following is an account of these collections. The Trans-Arabian Pipeline extends from the oil fields of northeastern Saudi Arabia across the Arabian Peninsula to its western terminal on the Mediterranean Sea at the Lebanese village of Sidon. Within the political boundaries of Saudi Arabia are four major TAPLINE pumping stations. These are spaced approximately 200 miles apart and occur from west to east in the following order: Turaif, Badanah, Rafha, and Qaisumah. The locations of the various stations are shown in Figure 1. The entire area, on the average, receives less than 10 inches of rainfall per year, and in some localities rain may not fall for 2 or 3 years in

new species of Myodopsylla Jordan and Rothschild 1911, from northern United States, with a key to the genus (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae)

A new species of Myodopsylla Jordan and Rothschild 1911 is described from material col- lected in Montana and Minnesota from Eptesicus fuscus. The composition of the genus is briefly dis- cussed, and a revised key is presented including those taxa described since the publication of Hopkins and Rothschild 1956.

A review of the South American flea subgenus Ectinorus Jordan 1942, with descriptions of two new species and a key (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae).

Ectinorus (E.) chilensis sp. n. from Abracoma bennetti and E. (E.) matini sp. n. from Aconaemys fuscus are described from collections from Chile. A diagnosis for the genus Ectinorus is given and differences between the nominate subgenus and the subgenus and the subgenus Dysmicus are briefly discussed. A key to the presently recognized species of the subgenus Ectinorus is included.

Descriptions of new fleas from Nepal, with notes on the genus Callopsylla Wagner, 1934 (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae).

Three new ceratophyllid fleas are described from collections made in Nepal. Callopsylla (Orneacus) fusca sp. n., an ectoparasite of certain passerine birds at high elevations, is a dark species much resembling some members of the genus Monopsyllus in the modified segments of the male. Both Citellophilus mygala sp. n. and C. atallahi sp. n. differ from most other members of the genus in the possession of a pair of short, spiniform setae on the caudal margin of the movable process of the male. They differ from each other in the shape of the movable process and the proportions of the apex of the ninth sternite. A brief history of the genus Callopsylla is presented and comparisons are made with closely related genera. Among the many new genera and species of ectoparasitic arthropods collected on the Nepal Ectoparasite Project are a number of new species of fleas. Three of these have been described elsewhere (Lewis, 1968, 1969, 1970), and descriptions for many others are in various stages of preparation. This paper deals with one new species of Callopsylla Wagner, 1934, and two new species of Citellophilus Wagner, 1934, genera that are exclusively Palaearctic in distribution. The species of these genera are predominantly parasites of small rodents and pikas, though a few are found on birds and small carnivores, and one is known only from the Siberian mole. Callopsylla (Orneacus) fusca sp. n. (Figs. 1-6)

New Neopsylline Fleas from Nepal (Neopsyllinae: Hystrichopsyllidae)

Four new hystrichopsyllid fleas, 3 belonging to the genus Neopsylla Wagner, 1903, and 1 to Paraneopsylla Tiflov, 1937, collected from small rodents in Nepal are described. N. marleaneae sp. n. appears to be associated with species of the genus Rattus. N. mantissa sp. n. and N. pagea sp. n. parasitize high mountain voles of the genus Alticola and the latter species has also been taken from pikas. Paraneopsylla ioffi nepali sp. n. is associated with Ochotona roylei, Royles pika. The new species described below have been collected in Nepal during the past 3 years by Mr. C. O. Maser and Mr. R. M. Mitchell, collectors for the Nepal Ectoparasite Project. The efforts of these two men have resulted in the accumulation of vast numbers of ectoparasitic arthropods which are presently under study by various specialists. Holotypes and allotypes of all new taxa described below are deposited in the collection of the United States National Museum, Washington, D. C. Where available, paratypes have been deposited in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, England, and in the collections of Dr. Robert Traub, Bethesda, Maryland, and the author, Ames, Iowa. Paraneopsylla ioffi nepali ssp. n.

Phalacropsylla oregonensis sp. n., with a Key to the Species of Phalacropsylla Rothschild 1915 (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae)

A new species of flea belonging to the genus Phalacropsylla is described. The known distribution and host associations of the 5 recognized species are briefly discussed, and a key to these taxa is included.

Ctenophyllus (Conothobius) orientalis sp. n. (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae), a parasite of pikas in Northern India.

Ctenophyllus (Conothobius) orientalis sp. n. is described from material collected from Ochotona roylei and Rattus rattoides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, India. The species, as is characteristic of all members of the genus, parasitizes a species of Ochotona. It is characterized by the presence of spiniform setae on the frons and the shape of the modified abdominal segments in both sexes. During extensive collecting activities conducted by personnel of the Virus Research Centre, Poona, India, a number of new species of ectoparasitic arthropods have been amassed. Among them are some undescribed species of fleas which have contributed considerably to our knowledge of the range of certain genera. and the relationships of the various species. One of these, a new species of Ctenophyllus, is the subject of this study. Ctenophyllus (Conothobius) orientalis sp. n.

Ctenophyllus (Geusibia) triangularis sp. n. from Nepal, and discussion of the subgenera of Ctenophyllus (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae).

A new species of Ctenophyllus (Geusibia) is described from the highlands of Nepal, where it is a parasite of pikas (Ochotona). The status of the subgenera of Ctenophyllus is discussed and it is suggested that the new species destroys the trenchant distinctions between them. Among the ectoparasitic arthropods collected in Nepal by R. M. Mitchell were some undescribed species of fleas from pikas (Ochotona). These small lagomorphs are mainly restricted to the Palaearctic Region, although two species are known from western United States and Canada. They occur in mountainous terrain and are usually associated with talus slopes and rock slides. They are diurnal and active throughout the year. Members of the genus Ochotona are the true hosts of all of the known species of Ctenophyllus. Ctenophyllus (Geusibia) triangularis sp. n. (Figs. 1-5)