Siphonaptera

Of the siphonaptères ( Siphonaptera , of the Latin sipho “tube”) called in the past aphaniptères ( Aphaniptera ) is Insecte S Ptérygote S Holométabole, characterized by the existence of a horn. The chips are small insects Ectoparasite S. They infect the Mammifère S (whose Man) and some Oiseau X, and Sang their carriers live. Nearly 2.500 species are described to date, divided into 239 kinds and 15 to 16 families according to the authors and 5 super families.

The most current species are:

Ceratophyllus gallinae : (Chip of the chicken) the
Ctenocephalides felis : (Chip of the cat) the
Ctenocephalides canis : (Chip of the dog) the
Pulex irritans : (Chip of the man) the
Tunga penetrans :
Xenopsilla cheopsis chip-chews: (Chip of the rat) the

Description

They are the chips, ptérygotes very particular whose affinities with the other groups are indistinct. Siphonaptères are apterous, jumping, stitchers and live in close contact with their host: they are parasitic external the many vertebrate ones, being nourished of their blood (man, birds and mammals). The maxilles are strong and wounding with the labre; the palpi jawbones are long, the non-existent mandibles. Their identification is based on the adult stage.

The adult measures from 2 to 6 mm length (and can even go until 8mm), it is an insect without wings nor tail.

Biological cycle

The chips pass by four developmental stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. The duration of the biological cycle depends on the species in question, the temperature, moisture and the access to food. According to the conditions, a chip can arrive at the adult stage between two at several months.

Development

After each blood meal, the female chips lay from four to eight round eggs, with smooth hull, of color blanchâtre. If their texture is sticking, the eggs can be spread easily while falling. Does the egg hatch after a few days and it leaves a larva in form there worm which, at the species of usual hosts, measure approximately 1,5 mm to go until?? Misters It nourishes organic remains, larval skins and dried blood being in the excretions of the adult chips. At rest it is fixed firmly at the hairs or on fibers at its disposal by avoiding the light. The larva recovers dust, fibers, grains of sand, and organic remains and, under this coating, it weaves a cocoon with the silk provided by its labial glands. In this shelter, the larva, initially white, browns more and more and metamorphose itself as an adult. The adult chip can remain locked up during several months in its cocoon, until favorable conditions, like an increase in the temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations, support its emergence. It is sensitive to the vibrations.

Impacts of the chips

The Tungidae (Pulicoidea) or “chips chew” are permanent parasites in an adult state: the females are inserted in the skin, generally feet, gorge themselves with blood, develop a bulky laying which is spread with dead female.

The chips transmit the plague of a rodent to the other (wild cycle) but it arrives that the pesteux bacillus ( Yersinia pestis ) passes accidentally to the man and causes, before antibiotics, of the catastrophic epidemics. The principal species implied in the transmission of the plague are: Xenopsylla cheopis , Xe. brasiliensis , Nosopsyllus faciatus and in Asia Xe. astia . The role of Pulex irritans is discussed

Systematic

One can divide them into two great groups on the following characters:

Sensilium (Pygidium) with 8 to 14 small cavities on each side, tibia RN without external tooth: Pulicoidea which comprises only 2 families
Sensilium with 14, more often 16 (or more) small cavities on each side, tibia RN usually carrying an apical pointed tooth on the external side. Ceratophylloidea

List families

Amphipsyllidae
Tungidae - Sticktight and Chigoe flea S (Chiggers) -->

Pulicidae - common Chip

Coptopsyllidae

Vermipsyllidae - chip of the carnivorous

Rhopalopsyllidae - chip of the Marsupial

Hypsophthalmidae

Stephanocircidae

Pygiopsyllidae

Hystrichopsyllidae - chip of the Rat S and the Mouse

Leptopsyllidae - chip of the Bird X and the rabbits

Ischnopsyllidae - chip of the Bat

Ceratophyllidae

Malacopsyllidae

Rodent Dolichopsyllidae - chip of the s

Ctenopsyllidae