The Effects of Flea Egg Consumption on Larval Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Development

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2000

Abstract

Cat flea larvae feeding on the feces of adult fleas that were maintained on cats and were provided with frozen flea eggs ad libitum each consumed an average of 21.7 ± 3.9 eggs and developed rapidly with 100% adult emergence. In contrast, 93.4% of larvae held individually and provided with only flea feces did not survive to the adult stage. Developing larvae consumed eggs in the presence of yeast and rearing diet. In a second experiment, larvae provided with flea feces and eggs and maintained at 55% RH consumed 26.9 ± 2.7 eggs per larva, compared to larvae maintained at 75% RH that consumed 20.4 ± 1.9 eggs per larva.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Vector Ecology

First Page

98

Last Page

101

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