Hectopsyllidae

Hectopsyllidae
Tunga penetrans
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Siphonaptera
Suborder:	Pulicomorpha
Superfamily:	Pulicoidea
Family:	Hectopsyllidae Baker, 1904
Genera
Tunga (incl. Tunga penetrans) Hectopsylla
Synonyms
Hectopsyllinae Baker, 1904 (but see text) Sarcopsyllidae Taschenberg, 1880 Sarcopsyllinae Taschenberg, 1880 Tungidae Fox, 1925 (1880) Tunginae Fox, 1925 (1880)

Hectopsyllidae is a small family of fleas, containing only the chigoe flea Tunga penetrans and the genus Hectopsylla. They were formerly known as Tungidae, and by authorities that demote the Pulicoidea to family rank they are treated as subfamily Hectopsyllinae (formerly Tunginae). Only 2 genera with some handfuls of species are placed here nowadays, making further subdivision of the family unnecessary.^[1]

These fleas usually parasitize terrestrial mammals, and in a few cases birds and bats. The females are by and large immobile and will remain attached to the same place for prolonged periods of time, possibly until they die. Hectopsylla narium was found to live inside the nostrils of the burrowing parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus patagonus).^[1]

The closest living relatives of the Hectopsyllidae are the common fleas, Pulicidae. The Hectopsyllidae differ from these by the following characteristics:^[1]

• Antennal club with punctiform sensilla
• dorsal and medial setae on the abdominal terga of the female reduced
• Left and right sensilia separated midways and with 8 sensory pits
• Proximal arm of ninth sternite lobe-shaped
• Well-sclerotized and crisply outlined lateral lamina of the aedeagal apodeme

In addition, they have reduced setae on the antennal flagellum, but this may be an adaptation bearing little phylogenetic information.^[1]

References

1. Stephan M. Blank; Christian Kutzscher; Juan F. Masello; Robert L. Pilgrim; Petra Quillfeldt (2007). "Stick-tight fleas in the nostrils and below the tongue: evolution of an extraordinary infestation site in Hectopsylla (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 149 (1): 117–137. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00239.x.