INSECT INSIGHTS

by Dave Walker

This month - flea circus!

 

The second in an occasional series which takes a look at some of the features and fascinating adaptations of insects which can be easily seen with a low power microscope. Suppliers of prepared slides of the subjects discussed are provided. (See footnote if animated flea circus left isn't displayed).


Fleas seem to get a 'bad press', which is hardly surprising as they are unwanted 'guests' on our pets or in our houses. They are or have been the vectors of a number of serious diseases including Bubonic Plague, i.e. the Black Death of the Middle Ages which killed one quarter of the population of Europe.

However, they are amazing insects and as we like to celebrate the wonders of the miniature world 'warts and all' here on Micscape, this month we take a closer look at these fascinating critters.

Flea factfile - some itchy facts about fleas (source and quotes from Enycylopaedia Britannica 15th edition, 1993 printing, entry for 'flea' in Micropaedia)

Fleas - built for purpose

Oriental rat flea

The image left shows a prepared slide of the Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopsis). (The image is a 'bas relief' derived from an optical photomicrograph to highlight the flea's shape and form). This flea is one of the main species responsible for transmitting bubonic plague. (There are many sites on the web describing this disease and the role played by the flea in it's transmission, try 'bubonic plague' on a web search engine.)


 

 

Cat flea

The image right shows a cat flea. Notice the dark brown stiff comb-like hairs which the rat flea above doesn't possess.

 

 

 

 

The head of the cat flea larva is shown on the left. The female lays eggs on the host or it's habitat which hatch to legless larvae. After a few molts a cocoon is spun and enters the pupal stage. Eventually the adult flea emerges. Adult fleas live from a few weeks to over a year.

 

 

 

Hedgehog flea

Hedgehog flea body
Hedgehog flea head.
The sucking mouthparts
are barbed making fleas
difficult to remove.
Hedgehog flea legs.
Notice the claws
which enable them
to grip the host

Water fleas?

Some of the little creatures you can commonly find in a pond are colloquially known as water fleas e.g. the Daphnia and similar species of the so-called 'Cladocera' shown left. The term is sometimes applied to Copepods as well (e.g. Cyclops species). They are called 'water-fleas' because they do move somewhat reminiscent of a flea but they are not insects or related to true fleas in any way. 'Water fleas' are fascinating creatures and we hope to look at them in a Micscape article in more detail in the near future. The delightful animation shown left is © Wim van Egmond. (Visit Wim's home page where an animated protozoa can be seen).

Taking a closer look at fleas yourself

It's probably best to seek good local advice (e.g. a local council Environmental Health Department) in your own country before searching for fleas yourself if there's a possibility they are known vectors of disease. If in any doubt buying prepared slides is a safer option! In the UK, cats, dogs and hedgehogs are potential sources of fleas but beware of and take precautions against spreading an infestation if collecting and examining live.

An excellent series of booklets on killing and preparing whole and dissected mounts of insects is available from Northern Biological Supplies (follow shop links).

If preparing slides doesn't appeal or is not feasible, many of the supply houses may have one or more flea species available as a prepared slide. Biosil in the UK for example can offer prepared slides of a cat flea (adult and larva) and hedgehog flea. In the US check out the catalogues of companies like Edmund Scientific, Carolina Biological Supplies and Wards.


Acknowledgements.
'The Fabulous Flea Circus' Shockwave animation shown above is freeware available from
http://www.adveract.com/shokbobl/baubles/flea.htm.

Images of an oriental rat flea taken froma prepared slide by John Atkinson (the author's brother in law), other flea slides prepared by John Wells, UK. Water flea animation by Wim van Egmond.

Further reading The above is just a flavour of the many fascinating aspects of fleas. Most large encyclopaedias should have a good section under 'Insects' on fleas. eg Encyclopaedia Britannica.

 

Footnote:
You need a Macromedia Shockwave plug-in for your browser for this to work. Click button to download appropriate 'Director' plug-in. Return to article.


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