A new record of the flea Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata coloradensis (Baker, 1895) (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in Utah

2006·1.3 MB·

by  Michael W Hastriter

PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
108(3), 2006, pp. 730-731
NOTE
A New Record of the Flea Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata coloradensis
(Baker, 1895) (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in Utah
Tarsopsylla Wagner, 1927, is a holarctic Jellisoni 1. Fox, 1941 (USNM No. 54249)
genus for which the nominate species and Holland (1949) subsequently synon-
[Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata octodecim- ymized O. jellisoni with that of T. o.
dentata (Kolenati, 1863)] occurs from coloradensis. This flea is rarely collected
Europe to extreme eastern Asia. Nearctic and Morlan9s (1955) collection of such
populations are considered a subspecies a large series of adults from four nests
[Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata coloraden- would support the premise that this is
sis (Baker, 1895)] of the nominate species a true nest flea collected only during the
and are found from Alaska to New cooler months of the year. It undoubted-
Mexico (Haddow et al. 1983). Baker ly occurs in many montane localities in
(1895) originally described 7. 0. color- the western United States in conjunction
adensis from a single male (holotype: with the red squirrel, 7: hudsonicus, and
Pulex coloradensis USNM No. 104605) the northern flying squirrel, G. sabrinus.
collected on Fremont9s Chickaree [= These squirrels frequent each others nest-
Tamiasciurus 4hudsonicus (Erxleben)], ing tree cavities and both are occasionally
George Town, 39°43'N 105°429W, [Clear prey to the pine marten, M. americana.
Creeks County], Colorado, |. Bruner: Therefore, this flea may be found on all
Holland (1985) provided a detailed ac- three of these host species but the true
count of records throughout Alaska and host is probably 7. hudsonicus.
western Canada. In addition to the This first report of 7: 0. coloradensis in
original description, only five records Utah is represented by a single female
have been documented in montane re- collected from G. sabrinus, nr. Marsh
gions of the western United States. These Lake and China Lake (Smith9s Fork
include; 1) one female collected from drainage, north slope of Uinta Moun-
the nest of Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw), tains) (40°579N- 110°249W), Summit
Powwatka Ridge, Wallowa County, Ore- County, Utah, 13.X1.2001. Holland
gon, 17.XII.1977, M. Huff. (Lewis et al. (1985) pointed out the variation that
1988, Whitaker et al. 1983) (collection may occur in the female seventh sternite.
data obtained from R. E. Lewis, pers. The caudal margin of the seventh sternite
Comm.); 2) two females collected from of the Utah female has a broadly squared
Martes americana (Turton), Larimer dorsal lobe subtended by a broad mod-
County, Colorado, X.1977 (Eads et al. erately deep sinus and a ventral lobe.
1979): 3),one female collected. from 7: This specimen is retained in the author9s
hudsonicus, San Pedro Mt., 2670-2733 m, personal flea collection.
Sandoval County, New Mexico, V.19694 Tipton and Saunders (1971) reported
1971 (Haas et al. 1973); 4) 13 males and 115 species of fleas in Utah. Two are
12 females collected from four T. hudso- considered invalid species [Eumolpianus
nicus nests, 6.X.1953 (Morlan 1955): and eumolpi americanus (Hubbard, 1950) (see
5) two males collected from G. sabrinus, Lewis and Jameson 2002), and Meringis
Deer Park, Boise, Idaho, 15418.XII.1939, jJewetti Hubbard, 1940 (see Smit 1953)]
W.H. Marshall. The latter specimens and the presence of a third, Stenistomera
were originally described as Opisodasys hubbardi Egoscue, 1968, can not be
VOLUME 108, NUMBER 3 731
validated in Utah. Two additional species Hastriter, M. W. 1994. Establishment of the tungid
were subsequently documented in Utah flea, Tunga monositus (Siphonaptera: Pulici-
dae), in the United States. Great Basin
by Kucera (1995) [Euhoplopsyllus glacia-
Naturalist 57: 2814282.
lis lynx (Baker, 1904)] and Hastriter
Holland, G. P. 1985. The fleas of Canada, Alaska,
(1997) (Tunga monositus Barnes and and Greenland (Siphonaptera). Memoirs of the
Radovsky, 1969). With the addition of Entomological Society of Canada, No. 130,
T. o. coloradensis, the total number of 631 pp.
Kucera, J. R. 1995. Additional records of fleas
recognized species (including subspecies)
(Siphonaptera) from Utah. Great Basin Natu-
in Utah is 115 with 53 genera represented.
ralist 55: 92-94.
Acknowledgment.4I am grateful to
Lewis, R. E. and E. W. Jameson, Jr. 2002. A review
Duke S. Rogers, Department of Integra- of the flea genus Ewmnolpianus Smit, 1953 with
tive Biology, Monte L. Bean Life Science a discussion of its geographic distribution and
Museum, Brigham Young University, host associations (Siphonaptera: Certaophylli-
dae: Ceratophyllinae). Journal of Vector Ecol-
Provo, Utah, for graciously contributing
ogy 27: 235-249.
this new record for study.
Lewis, R. E., J. H. Lewis, and C. Maser. 1988.
Fleas of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State
LITERATURE CITED
University Press, Corvallis. 296 pp.
Baker, C. F. 1895. Preliminary studies in Sipho- Morlan, H. B. 1955. Mammal fleas of Santa Fe
naptera, III. Canadian Entomologist 27: County, New Mexico. Texas Reports on
108-111. Biology and Medicine 13: 93-125.
Eads, R. B., E.G. Campos, and A. M. Barnes. 1979. Smit, F. G. A. M. 1953. Monstrosities in Sipho-
New records for several flea (Siphonaptera) naptera. IV. More cases of castration. Ento-
species in the United States, with observations mologische Berichten 14: 393-400.
on species parasitizing carnivores in the Rocky Tipton, V. J. and R. C. Saunders. 1971. A list of
Mountain region. Proceedings of the Entomo- arthropods of medical importance which occur
logical Society of Washington 81: 38442. in Utah with a review of arthropod-borne
Fox, I. 1941. A new Opisodasys from Idaho diseases endemic in the state. Brigham Young
(Siphonaptera: Dolichopsyllidae). Entomologi- University Science Bulletin, Biological Series
cal News 52: 45-47. 15, 1-31.
Haas, G. E., R. P. Martin, M. Swickard, and B. E. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., E. A. Lyons, M. A. Smith, and
Miller. 1973. Siphonaptera-mammal relation- C. Maser. 1983. Nest inhabitants and ectopar-
ships in northcentral New Mexico. Journal of asites of Northern Flying Squirrels, Glaucomys
Medical Entomology 10: 2814289. sabrinus (Shaw), from northeastern Oregon.
Haddow, J. R., Traub, and M. Rothschild. 1983. Northwest Science 57: 2914295.
Distribution of ceratophyllid fleas and notes
on their hosts, pp. 42-163. In Traub, R., M. Michael W. Hastriter, Monte L. Bean
Rothschild, and J. F. Haddow, eds. The Life Science Museum, Brigham Young
Rothschild Collection of Fleas. The Cerato-
University, 290 MLBM, P.O. Box 20200,
phyllidae: Key to the genera and _ host
Provo, UT 84602-0200, U.S.A. (e-mail:
relationships. University Press, Cambridge.
288 pp. mwhastri ter@sprintmail. com )