Family LEPTOPSYLLIDAE

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Introduction

The Leptopsyllidae are a widespread Northern Hemisphere family with about 230 species and subspecies in 29 genera and two subfamilies (Lewis 1998). It was last reviewed by Hopkins & Rothschild (1971). The family is known from all biogeographic regions except the Neotropics and is represented in Australia by a single introduced species, Leptopsylla segnis, that is now cosmopolitan on the House Mouse. The older generic name Ctenopsyllus Kolenati, 1863, which was used twice for different genera of fleas by Kolenati and caused considerable confusion, has been suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1954) and placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Generic Names. Hopkins & Traub (1955) and Hopkins & Rothschild (1971) discussed the relationships of the family.

Leptopsyllids are characterised as head fracticipit; antennal fossa closed; head with two spiniform setae at frontal angle and vertical genal ctenidium of four blunt spines; metanotum with marginal or submarginal spinelets; fourth link plate lacking between thorax and abdomen; dorsal side of sensilium flat; tibiae with pectinate row of setae.

General References

Hopkins, G.H.E. & Rothschild, M. 1971. An Illustrated Catalogue of the Rothschild Collection of Fleas (Siphonaptera) in the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum Vol. 5 viii 530 pp. 30 pls.

Hopkins, G.H.E. & Traub, R. 1955. The genus Cratynius Jordan (Siphonaptera) and its systematic position, with a description of a new species. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 107: 249-264

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1954. Opinion 285. Acceptance of the generic name Leptopsylla Rothschild & Jordan, 1911 (Class Insecta, Order Siphonaptera) for the house-mouse flea. Opinions and Declarations rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 8: 15-28

Lewis, R.E. 1998. Résumé of the Siphonaptera (Insecta) of the World. Journal of Medical Entomology 35(4): 377-389 [Date published 31/July/1998]

History of changes