First flea (Siphonaptera) records for Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, Central Alaska

2012·4.3 MB·English

by  Glenn E Haas

6 J.Entomol.Soc.Brit.Columbia 109,December2012
First flea (Siphonaptera) records for Kanuti National Wildlife
Refuge, Central Alaska.
GLEiNN E. HAAS^ JAMES R. KUCERA^, S. O. MacDONALD^ and
JOSEPH COOK^
A.
ABSTRACT
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR) was established in 1980 in Central Alaska.
Collections of mammal tleas began in 1991. Six species resulted: Catallagia daceukoi loff,
Corwdopsylla curvata (Rothschild), Ctenophthalnius pseudagyrtes Baker, Mcgabothris
calcarifer (Wagner), Anialaraeus dissimilis (Jordan) and Peromyscopsylla ostsibirica
(Scalon). Ten species of fleas were previously recorded from the upper Koyukuk River
KNWR
watershed. One female specimen each of C. curvata and Ct. pseudagyrtes from the
are the only new fleas added to the upper watershed list.
Keywords: fleas, Siphonaptera, mammal hosts, Alaska
INTRODUCTION
NWR
The upper Koyukuk Ri\er watershed in Recent collections in Kanuti since 1991
Central Alaska (MacDonald and Cook 2009: benefitted from instruments for detemiining
Figs. 10, 12, pp. 33, 34) was mostly an georeferenced locality coordinates.
unknown Arctic wilderness before 1929 The length of KNWR north of the Arctic
(Figure 1). The earliest systematic Circle is ca. 35 km and ca. 63 km south ofit.
comprehensi\e mapping survey of the The south portion extends from 66°33' to
topography ofthis large area fi"om the Brooks slightly more than I km south of 66°00'.
Range south to the Arctic Circle w'as Collections by Patsy Martin are nearest the
accomplished from 1929 to 1939 primarily by Arctic Circle at 66°19'9", i.e., 13'51" south of
R. Marshall (1956: maps pp. 6, 34, 35, 111, 66°33\ Marshall's maps only extend ca. 10
143 + folding map). Flea collections begun in km south of the Arctic Circle. Thus, they
KNWR
1955 were facilitated by accurate detailed could not be used to confirm
maps showing rivers, lakes and villages, localities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
KNWR
Collecting began in on 9 66"18M2*'N, 151M6'30"W. Most flea
September 1991 when Patsy Martin recorded specimens that we obtained had complete field
AF1115 (UAM22104) ex Myodes (fomierly collection data that facilitated identifications.
Clethrionof7iys) rutilis near small lakes south Field collection years were 1991 (fleas not
of the Arctic Circle at 66"19'0"N, seen), 1992, 1993, 1996 and 2006. Patsy
15r^47'0'AV. On 10 and 11 September 1991 8 Martin was the most active collector Other
additional AF records had Sorex ciuereus Kerr contributors were A. Zirkle, J. Bopp, and R.
(1), Syuaptomys borealis (Richardson) (1), Brubaker More recently, specimens (2006)
and Microtus pennsylvanicus (2) as well as were collected by L. Saperstein. Her new
My. rutilis (4). We have not seen the tleas in collections are welcome compensation for
these 9 collections nor in AF1644 fleas missing in 1991 and 1993 (see below).
(UAM46647) recorded by Aliy Zirkle on 27 All localities were south of the Arctic Circle.
August 1993, south of the Arctic Circle at Six species of fleas from 7 species of
' Dr. Glenn Haas diedduringthe publication ofthis work, Glenn was a long-time supporterofthe Society- and made
majorcontributionstothe knowledge ofwesternNorthAmerican Siphonaptera. He will be missed.
-Associated Regional andUniversit>- Pathologists. Inc.. SaltLake Cit>. LT. USA
Museum ofSouthwestern Biology. Universit>- ofNewMexico.Albuquerque. N\t, United States
J.Entomol.Soc.Brit.Columbia109,December2012 7
KNWR
mammalian hosts from were studied. oeconomus [AF18469; UAM38386], 9.viii.
Note that we received a report that whatever 1996, PM. 66'^18'45"N, 15r45'59"W, 1?
fleas were collected by Martin in 1991 and from Microtus pennsylvanicus [AF18466;
Zirkle in 1993 were transferred from the UAM41561], 8.viii.l996, PM. 66^19'9"N,
Nixon Wilson collection to the University of 151M7'4r'W, 1(?, 1? from Myodes rutilis
Nebraska, Lincoln collection for curation in [AF18454; UAM38338], l.ix.l996, PM.
M
2012. 66*^19'9"N, 151M7'4r'W, 1$ from rutilis
Acronyms identifying collectors of flea [AF18450; UAM38334], 2.ix.l996, PM.
specimens mainly in the species accounts are 66°19'9"N, 15r47'4r'W, \S from My. rutilis
as follows: AZ=Aliy Zirkle; JB=Jesse Bopp; [AF18449; UAM38333], 3.ix.l996, PM.
PM & PAM=Patsy Martin; RB=Rachel 66°19'9"N, 15r47'4r'W, 1$ from Afy. rutilis
Brubaker; LS=Lisa Saperstein. [AF18459; UAM38343], 3.ix.l996, PM.
After receiving one or more fleas in a vial Remarks: This common Holarctic flea is a
of 70% ethanol containing an AF label parasite ofthe voles Myodes rutilis, Microtus
matching the AF for the mammal host on data oeconomus and Microtus pennsylvanicus in
provided by University ofAlaska, Fairbanks, Alaska. Its vestigial eye indicates it has the
all specimens were permanently slide- behaviour of a nest flea. It ranges across
mounted in Canada balsam. Technique for Alaska eastward to the Yukon Territory, then
slide-mounting is as specified in Haas et al., east-southeast as far as Manitoba (Holland
2005. 1985: Map 16). Its range inAlaska has several
KANUTI NWR SPECIESACCOUNTS large regions that lack records: Southeast
CTENOPHTHALMIDAE Panhandle, North Slope, extreme Southwest,
Catallagia dacenkoilofif, 1940 Kenai Peninsula, and land in and around
Material examined: USA: AK: 66°19.4'N, Prince William Sound, There appears to be a
151''46.9'W, \S from Microtus oeconomus maritime factor that precludes C. dacenkoi
[AF1585; UAM47004], 28.viii.1993, AZ. from coastal habitat with a few exceptions:
M
66"18'43"N, 151M6'32"W, \S. 1? from Unalakleet, Stebbins, St, Michael along the
Figure 1. Map ofAlaska showing central location ofKanutiNational Wildlife Refrige inthe upper
KoyukukRiverwatershed and straddlingtheArctic Circle.
;
8 J.Entomol.Soc.Brit.Columbia 109,December2012
Table 1
Se\en mammalian hosts of six taxa of fleas with present records for Kanuti National Wildlife
Refuse, central Alaska.
Mammal Fleas (Siphonaptera)
Rodentia: Cricetidae
Ctenophthalmidae. Ceratophyllidae
Lemnnis trimucronatus (Richardson),
Pewmyscopsylla ostsibirica (Scalon, 1936)
brown lemmins
Catallagia dacenkoi lofT, 1940
Microtus oecouonuis (Pallas), root \ole
P. ostsibirica
Microtuspennsyh'anicus (Ord), meadow
C. dacenkoi
vole
Microtusxanthognathus (Leach), taiga Cteuophthalmuspseudagyrtes Baker, 895
1
vole Amalaraeus dissimilis (Jordan, 1929)
C. dacenkoi
Myodes rutilis (Pallas), northern red- P. ostsibirica
backed vole Megabothris calcarifer (Wagner, 913)
A. dissimilis
Synaptomys borealis (Richardson M. calcarifer
northern bo2 lemmina
Soricomorpha; Soricidae Corrodopsvlia c. curvata (Rothschild,
Sorex cinereus Kerr, cinereus shrew 1915)
In Table 1, the mammal column shows Microtus spp. and Myodes sp. are dominant. Their fleas are
almost entirely common species. The exceptional collection ofthe Ctenophthalmuspseudagyrtes
NWR
specimen from Microtus xanthognathus in Kanuti extended this flea's continental range
northward roughly 100 km. A series ofthree brown lemmings totaled four female P. ostsibirica
specimens. A northern bog lemming only had one female M. calcarifer. Another mammal with
NWR
only one female flea specimen (C. c. curvata) is the cinereus shrew, a rarity in Kanuti that
suggests testing different traps and li\e baits for shrews.
Benng Sea coast and at the head ofCook Inlet Corrodopsvlia c. curvata (Rothschild,
in Southcentral Alaska (Holland 1985: Map 1915)
16; Haas et al. 1989: p. 399, Map 3; Material examined: USA: AK:
MacDonald and Cook 2009: Figs. 14, 16). 66°18'43"N, 151°46'32"W, Ir from Sorex
Catallagia dacenkoi might have been cinereus [AF17817; UAM38366], 8.viii.l996,
preceded to east Beringia by its uncommon PM.
Holarctic congener C ioffi Scalon, 1950, now Remarks: Only this one shrew and its
restricted to YT, northern BC and southern single flea were collected. It took until the last
KNWR
Alberta. In a review of the 15 species of yea^r (1996) of collecting in for this
Catallagia in North America, Lewis and Haas success by P. Martin. Sorex cinereus is
(2001: pp. 57-59, Figs. 15, 29, 43, 57) recorded along the Koyukuk R. and o\er most
determined that C.jellisoni Holland, 1954 is a of Alaska but not the North Slope and the
junior synonym of C. ioffi Scalon. Its closest Yukon-Kuskokwim R. delta (MacDonald and
known approach to Alaska from the east is Cook 2009: Map 35). Records ofC. c. cun-ata
Swede Dome, YT (Holland 1985: p. 101, Map are sparse in Holland (1985: p. 189, Map 36)
17). with a large \oid west of the Yukon-Tanana
confluence. Later however, Haas et al. (1989:
J.Entomol.Soc.Brit.Columbia109,December2012 9
Map 2) recorded 19 d'c? and 19 ?? collected Hudson Bay according to Holland (1985: Map
by T.O. Osborne along the Yukon R. between 78). The Southeast Panhandle has no records.
Galena and the Yukon-Koyukuk R. Four diverse distribution maps are available:
confluence. Six new records ofshrew fleas in Hopla (1965: Map 8); Haddow et al. (1983: p.
western Alaska had been published (1982), 109, Map 82, as Megabothris asio gregsoni
and fourwere along the Bering Sea coast. The Holland, 1950); Holland (1985: pp. 355-359,
symbols for these records appear on Map 78); Haas et al. (1989: p. 399, Map 4).
distribution map 2 of Haas et al. (1989: p. Lewis (2009) discussed the uncertain
398). Records (Bering Sea shore): Nelson taxonomic status of the Megabothris asio-
Island, Toksook Bay, 1 $ from Sorex calcarifer complex. Are there two species in
monticolus, 25.ix.1978 and Hooper Bay, \S North America or only one? If two, do they
from S. monticolm, 28.vii.1980 (Haas 1982). each have two of more subspecies? Holland
Scammon Bay, iSS 19 from S. monticolus, (1985: pp. 355-359) retained M. calcarifer for
13.vi.l980, GEH & Goodman: same data but his many New Alaska Records and stated M.
\S from M. oeconomiis (Haas et aL 1982). asio asio (Baker, 1904) "... has not been
Records (inland): Yukon R., Holy Cross, 1$ reported for Alaska ..." nor did he mention,
from S. monticolus, 28.viii,1979 and list or map (77) M. asio megacolpus (Jordan,
Kuskokwim R., Tuluksak, 1$ from S. 1929) inAlaska.
cinereus, l.viii.l980 (Haas etal, 1982). Amalaraeus dissimilis (Jordan, 1929)
Ctenophthalmnspseudagyrtes Baker 1895 Material examined: USA: AK: 66°19.36'N,
Material examined: USA: AK: Mouse 151M6.98'W, 1$ from Microtus
Lake, 66°18'47.22"N, 151°45'54.18"W, 1? xanthognathus [AF1583, UAM46995],
from Microtus xanthognathus [AF40419; 28.viii.1993, AZ. 66°19.4'N, 15r47.0'W, 1(J
UAM87607], 25.viii.2006, LS. from Myodes rutilis [AF1584; UAM47239],
Remarks: Haas et al (2010) noted the 28.viii.1993, AZ. 66'^19'9"N, 151M7'41"W,
incongruity of the known range of this flea 1? from each of 3 My rutilis [AF18451
with the huge range ofits main host, Microtus (UAM38335), AF18450 (UAM38334),
spp. This collection establishes the most AF18454 (UAM38338)] and \S 3?? from
northerly known record of this species in My rutilis [AF18460 (UAM38344)], l.ix.
Alaskaand inthe Koyukuk Riverwatershed. 1996, PM. Mouse Lake, 66°19'20.94"N,
CERATOPHYLLIDAE 151°46'58.02"W, 7$ from My. rutilis
Megabothris calcarifer(Wagner, 1913) [AF40221 (UAM87427)], 26.viii.2006, LS.
Material examined: USA: AK: no Remarks: The most prolific, wide-ranging
coordinates, 1(J, 1$ from Myodes rutilis vole flea in Alaska except for the Southeast
[AF1585; UAM47004], 13.ix.l992, RB. 2nd Panhandle is Amphi-Beringian Amalaraeus
record same data but [API577, UAM36776]. dissimilis. Its two preferred hosts are Myodes
66°19'9"N, 151°47'41"W, 1$ from M;;. rutilis rutilis and Microtus oeconomus. Collections
[AF18459; UAM38343], 3.ix.l996, PM. along the Koyukuk R. were successful at all
Mouse Lake, 66°18M7.22"N, study areas except Bettles. Available
151°45'54,18'W, 1$ from Synaptomys distribution maps are those of Hopla (1965:
borealis [AF40305; UAM87674], 27.viii. Map 7); Haddow et al. (1983: p. 14, Map 8);
2006, LS. Holland (1985: Map 86); Lewis (2008: Fig
Remarks: This flea stands out as the only 2A). Hopla (1965: pp. 159, 161 Table XV)
KNWR
one of12 that was collected in and the noted the sustained population of this most
three villages of Allakaket, Bettles and common microtine flea throughout the year.
Wiseman. This is no doubt a sign of small Haas et al. (1989: pp. 400-401) also noted A.
samples: more data are needed from KNWR. dissimilis is the most common, wide-ranging
Collection data were recorded there in April, flea of My. rutilis and Mi. oeconomus. Haas
August and September. May, June and July (1982) found that A. dissimilis was more
would undoubtedly be productive. abundant in vole nests than any other species
Megabothris calcarifer is a common and offlea found in the nests. For example: of 14
abundant Holarctic vole flea that prefers species ofvole fleas found in nests in Alaska,
Holarctic My. rutilis and Mi. oeconomus. It A. dissimilis led in five ofsix measurements:
ranges over much of Alaska, even as far as Total specimens (939), Total specimens reared
10 J.Entomol.Soc.Brit.Columbia109,December2012
(417), Maximum number in a nest (388), Remarks: This flea is anAmphi-Beringian
Number of nests infested (91) and Total parasite of Holarctic Microtus oeconomus,
numberoflocalities (40). secondarily Myodes rutilis with several
LEPTOPSYLLINAE records in the YT has most of its records in
Peromyscopsylla ostsibirica (Scalon, central and south-central Alaska. None is in
1936) the southeast Panhandle or the North Slope. It
Material examined: USA: AK: 66°19'9"N, is primarily found in the interior forests, as in
151047'4r'W, 1? from Lemmus Siberia, with a few exceptions. It reaches
thmucronatus [AF17981; UAM47025], 2.ix. tidewater at the head of Cook Inlet and on
1996, PM & JB. 66''19'9"N, 15r47'41"W, tundra at Nome and Unalakleet (Holland
1$ from L, trimucronatus [AF18400; 1985: pp. 238-242, Map 51). Haas et al.
UAM38294], 2.ix.l996, PM, 66°19'9"N, (1989: p. 401, Map 7) noted its wide
151M7'41"W, 2$$ from L trimucronatus distribution in taiga and over tundra with a
[AF18406; UAM38300], 2.ix.l996, PM. tidewater record at Toksook Bay, Nelson I.
66"18'43"N, 15r46'32"W, 2S3 from (Haas et al. 1979). A survey of fleas in vole
Microtus oeconomus [AF17818; UAM38379], nests continued collection of P. ostsibirica
8.viii.l996, PM. 66°19'9"N, 15r47'41"W, from Mi. oeconomus on tundra at Toksook
\(S from Myodes rutilis [AF 18449; Bay and added Goodnews Bay (Haas 1982).
UAM38333], 3.ix.l996, PM. 66°18'43"N, Hopla observed over several years that adults
15r46'32"W, \<3 from Microtus ofP. ostsibirica first appeared on hosts around
pennsylvanicus [AF17826; UAM41541], the end of July. Haas et al. (1978) agreed on
7.viii.l996, PM. Mouse Lake, 66°19'20.94"N, the timing ofadult emergence behaviour.
151°46'58.02"W, \S from My. rutilis
[AF40221; UAM87427], 26.viii.2006, LS.
DISCUSSION
Excluding missing fleas of 1991 and one necessitate different flea collecting techniques
of 1993, field workers were only able to by field workers who trap small mammals.
collect five common species of Alaska The nearest bear record was on the Middle
mammal fleas from host rodents and a shrew Fork near Wiseman. One female flea,
KNWR
in in 1992, 1993 and 1996 (Table 1). Chaetopsylla tuberculaticeps (Bezzi), was
Two additional species of mammal fleas collected by an unknown technique from a
recorded by an earlier collector from Brown bear.
KNWR
Allakaket and Bettles are so close to Holland (1985: pp. 481-487, 489-493)
that field workers can walk across the listed mammals that have records of fleas in
boundary to add red squirrel fleas, Alaska. MacDonald and Cook (2009) have 13
Ceratophyllus vison Baker and Orchopeas mammal distribution maps with symbols
caedens (Jordan). The nest flea of voles, showing where the species occur in the upper
Amphipsylla marikovskii loft^ & Tiflov, is Koyukuk River watershed. Their fleas are
another species within walking distance of totally unknown. Some hosts might have just
KNWR. The Arctic ground squirrel flea, one or two accidental fleas, but such records
Oropsylla alaskensis (Baker), occurs north are nonetheless of interest. These potential
and south ofKNWR with no records between. host mammals are the following: singing vole,
Similarly, the lemming and vole flea, snowshoe hare, pygmy shrew, dusky shrew,
Megabothris groenlandicus Wahlgren, was tundra shrew, Canadian lynx, red fox,
recorded from Microtus voles at the northern American black bear, wolverine, American
location of Wiseman although there are more marten, ermine, least weasel, American mink.
southern records such as along the Yukon Collecting fleas from carnivores can require
River east ofthe confluence with the Koyukuk years in the field instead ofmonths compared
River. Brown bears, Ursus arctos Linnaeus, with small, abundant, easily trapped and
occur along the Koyukuk River and handled rodents.
J.Entomol.Soc.Brit.Columbia109,December2012 11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank our collectors, especially Patsy manuscript. Dr. Derek Sikes (University of
Martin and Lisa Saperstein. We also thank Alaska, Fairbanks) kindly provided specimens
Editor Dezene Huber, especially reviewer Dr. collected in 2006. We also thank Jean A.
MacLauchlan and an anonymous reviewer for Wilson for her time and effort proofing the
many helpful comments that improved our manuscript.
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