Pronunciation: s-fo-NAP-ter-a

Common name(s): fleas

Mouthparts: adults, piercing - sucking - feed on blood; larvae, chewing - feed on debris & fecal matter of adult

Wings: none

Metamorphosis: holometabolous

Body characteristics:

flattened (side-to-side);

rows of stiff body hairs (adult and larvae) all arranged in same orientation

Where found: adults on host, larvae close-by

Economic impact: bites annoy hosts, rat & human fleas transmit serious human diseases of plague and typhus

Size of order: 2100 species (250 in N. America)

• Gordon's Entomological Homepage
• University of Arizona Tree of Life Page (Very Interesting Site!)