Table Of ContentPROC. ENTOMOL.SOC.WASH.
105(4).200.^.pp. 876-882
A REVIEW OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FLEA GENUS SPICATA FOX,
I.
1940 (SIPHONAPTERA: CERATOPHYLLIDAE)
Robert E. Lewis
.^906 Stone BrookeCircle. Ames. lA .'S0()I()-4I74. U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected])
—
Abstract. ThespeciesandsubspeciesofthegenusSplcataarereviewed.Dactylopsylla
comis scapoosei Hubbard, D. c. tacomae Hubbard, and D. c. walkeri Hubbard are new
synonym.s ofSpiniui coiiiis (Jordan); Dactylopsylla minUloka Prince and Stark is a new
synonym ol Spicata luiditeiiaciila (Prince), and Dactylopsylla inoorei nioorei Hubbard
and D. m. oregona Hubbard are new .synonyms o\'Spicatapacifica (Hubbard). A key to
the remaining species is provided and their diagnt)stic characters are illustrated.
Key Words: Spicata. Ceratophyllidae, distribution, host/parasite, pocket gopher
There are three genera of fleas that are is an attempt to bring some order to the
specific ectoparasites of North American genus with an eye toward a taxonomic re-
geomyid rodents commonly known as vision ofthe subfamily towhich itbelongs.
pocket gophers. As might be expected they Except for S. comis (Jordan) I have exam-
appear to be closely related, have a some- ined the primary types ofall ofthe species
what confusing nomenclaturai history, and, and have concluded that there are only six
in recent years, have been assigned to the valid species, at most. Following is a ge-
subfamily Dactylopsyllinae. Members of neric diagnosis, a key to the species and a
the genus Foxclla Wagner 1929 aredistrib- briefresumeofwhat littleisknownofthese
uted from western Indiana west to British taxa. Acronyms used are USNM = Nation-
ColuTiibiaand south toat leastcentralMex- al MusuemofNatural History. Smithsonian
ico. The other two genera, Dactylopsylla Institution, Washington, DC: BMNH = The
Jordan 1929 and Spicata I. Fox 1940 are Natural History Museum. Londt)n.
tmoucwhesmteorrne pNooorrtlhyAkmneorwincaanfdroarmeCreosltorricatdeod Genus Spicata I. Fox 1940
and Wyoming, west to the coast, and south Spicata I. Fox 1940: 272-276. Type spe-
into Mexico. cies: Dactylopsylla (Spicata) rara I. Fox
Until now the genus Spicata. which was 1940. Original designation.
resurrected by Smit (1983), containedeight This genus contains species with the fol-
species, three of which contained named lowing diagnosticcharacters: Head: Witha
subspecies, for a total of twelve named ventral seta between the lowest setae in the
taxa. Since the name was erected, ten of frontal and ocular rows. Eyes vestigial to
these names have been introduced into the absent, when present, unpigmented. Sen-
literature with no apparent effort being di- sory pits on antennomeres 4-6, normal for
rected toward exploring their validity, hi- the family. Thorax: First pair of lateral
deedtwoofthe speciesarestill knownonly plantar setae on tarsomere V not displaced
from females, certainly not the diagnostic on to the plantar surface. Abdomen: Spic-
sex in this order of insects. The followinii ules on slernites very indistinct or absent.
VOl.lIMH 105, NUMBHR4 877
Mcilc iiKxIifieci segments: Tergiim VIII cal lobe ofst IX long and narrow, acuminate
without an area spiciilosa on inner surface. \entrally(Fig.9) i<iia
SterniteVIIIwithatleastafewlongventral - eMsotvpaobilnte(pFriogc.e4s)s;a-p-e6xXoafssltoVnIgIIaswiwtihdeanatapwiicda-l
setae. Posterior portion of distal arm of st extension and bearing long setae laterally as
IX with a patch of 3-25 setae which may wellasalongthecaudalmargin(Fig.^):apical
be relatively long and straight or short and lobeofstIXalmostoval,itscephalicandcau-
curly. Apical portion of this sternite form- dal marginsparallel (Fig.6) luicliwiuuiilci
ing a complete, elongated ellipsoid in lat- 5. CinacuidsailonmaneragrintsheofbsottVtIoImwoifththatelseeasgtmaenstha(lFliogw.
eral view. Two acetabularsetae, at least the IS) laia
upper one arising remote from the margin - Marginofthissegmentwithoutan incision . . (S
ofthe fixed process. Movable process long 6. CaudalmarginofstVIIes.senliallystraightver-
and relatively straight, its apex sometimes ticallyformostofitslength(Fig. 14) .... cumis
inclined cephalad. Aedeagus without dor- - oCfauvdaarlyimnagrgsihnapoefstVII projecting intoa lobe 7
soapical hooks or lobes. Female: Basal ab- 7. Caudal loberounded <S
dt)minal sternite with lateral setae. Base of - Caudal lobe angled although its apex may be
bursa copulatrix darkly sclerotized. Bulga rounded 9
of spermatheca globular. Hilla with a large S. Caudal lobe smoothly rounded from \enter
papilla. Anal stylet with two ventral and - C(Ia-ulgd.al15)lobe less smoothly rounded, trianWgiu'lialrlnola
onedorsal subapical setae. Large fleas,3.5- in the middle(Fig. 13) hiiiiiceps
4.5 mm, in western North America. y. Caudallobebluntlyrounded,itsveiuralmargin
The following key will separate the straight,ornearly.so(Fig. lb) ... iiiuliiciuuiiln
known species ofthe genus with thecaveat - Caudallobemoresharplyroundedapically, its
that only four ofthe six species are known ventral marginslightlyconcave (I-'ig. 17) .p.a.cilua
from the diagnostic sex and some are
known from so little material that we have SpUutu hottaceps (Hubbard 1943)
no knowledge ofthe range of intraspecihc (Fig. 13)
variation. Even with accompanying males Dactylopsylla (Fo.xelloides)hottacepsHub-
the females remain extremely difficult to bard 1943: 5, I unnumbered Hgure. USA,
identify, at least until more material conies California, Del Norte County, school
tt) hand. yard at Fort Dick,4I.54N I24.10W,from
Thomomys hottae, 3.VII.1943, C. A.
Key to Known Species of Spicata Hubbard leg. Holotype 9, USNM No.
1. Male 2 570X4.
- Female 5 Nothing appears to have been added to
2. Proximul lobe of distal arm ol si IX with a our knowledge of this species since the
densesiibmarginalpatchofeurly setae 3
- Proximallobeofdi.stalarmofstIXwithalew original description. The spermatheca and
longsetaethatarenotcurled 4 contours ofthe caudal margin ofst VII are
3. Fixedandmovableprocesseslongandnarrow, reminiscent of S. pacifica. but in the ab-
thelatterwithalmostparallelmargins(Fig. 1); sence of additional material, especially
apexofstVIIIclavate(Fig. 2); apical lobeof males, the species remains an enigma. Giv-
.mstarIgXinlsonsgubapnadralnlaerlro(wF,igi.ts3)cephalicandcaudalkhiiis en the amount ofindividual variation in the
- Fixedandmovableprocessesbroadermesally, species ofthe three genera in this subfam-
theirmarginsnotparallel (Fig. 10);apexofst ily, it is tempting to assign the two ta\a to
VIII not clavate. its margins almost parallel a single species.
(Fig. III;apicallobeofstIXshorter,oval, its
margins notparallel(Fig. 12) piuiJHd Spiccilii coiiiis (.lordan 1929)
4. Movableprocess~4X aslongaswideatwid- (Figs. 1-3, 14)
estpoint(Fig.7);apexofstVIII lackingpro-
nouncedapicalextensionandbearinglongse- DcutylopsylUi comis Jordan 1929: 35: 38.
taeonlyalongthecaudal margm (Fig. S);api- pi. II, fig. 26. Canada. British Colmnbia.
PROCEEDINGSOFTHEENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETYOFWASHINGTON
nuditenacula
Figs. 1-6. 1-3.Spiciirucomis. nottypes. 1. Maleclasper. 2,ApexofmalestVIII. 3. Ape,\ofmalestIX.
-6.Spicauinuditenacula, holotype.4,Maleclasper. 5, Apexofmalest VIII.6.ApexofmalestIX.
VOLUME 105.NUMBER4
paciftca
Figs. 7-12. 7-9,Spiciira rum. hololype. Mule clusper. 8. Apex eifmale st VIII. 9. Apex ofmalest IX.
10-12.Spicatapucitica. hokitype. 10. Male isper. 11.ApexofmalestVIII. 12, Apex ofmalest L\.
Okanagan Landing. 50.12N II9.22W. following data: USA. Oregon. Lane
from Tliomomys tolpoides. 2.V.1915. J. County, summit ofMcKenzie Pass, Frog
A. Munroleg. Holotype 9, BMNH. Male Camp, --44.15N 121.50W. from Thonio-
described by Hubbard (194,^) with the ims mazwmi, 22.Vn.1938. C. A. Hub-
PROCEEDINGSOFTHEENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETYOFWASHINGTON
Figs. L^-18. SpermathecaandcaudalmarginoffemalesiVII. ]?.Spicatahaniceps. holotype. 14..S".comis.
nottypes. 15.S.monlicola(a)holotype,(b)paratype. 16..S'.niuliwiuuulti(alallotype,(blS.minidoka.allotype,
(c)S.minidoka.paratype. 17,5.pacifica,(a)allotype,(b)S.innorciiiitiorci.allotype,(c)S.m.oregonu.allotype.
18.S. ram. nottypes.
bard leg, USNM No. 57086. The author Holotype 6. allotype 9, USNM No.
erroneously ret'eired to this specimen as 104686. New synonym.
the "allotype." DiictylopsyllacomiswalkeriHubbard 1954:
Dactylop.sylla comis .scapoosei Hubbard 170, figure unnumbered. USA, Oregon,
1954: 169. figure unnumbered. USA, Curry County, Wedderburn, 42.27N
Oregon, Columbia County, Scapoose. 124.26W, from Thomomys monticoUi,
45.46N 122.54W, from Thomomys tcil- 18.IX.1949,C. A. Hubbard leg. Holotype
poides. 8.V.1951,C. A. Hubbardleg. Ho- 6. BMNH. New synonym.
lotype 6. allotype 9, said to be in the
USNM butnot listed inthecomputerized Hubbard(1947)saidthatthisspecieswas
typeinventory and not locatedby Adams so infrequently collected that he suspected
and Lewis (1995). New synonym. it might be a nest flea or occur as adults
Dac1ylop.sylla comis tacomae Hubbard only during the wintermonths. I have been
1954: 170, figure unnumbered. USA, able toexamine eightpairs, and in addition
Washington, Pierce County. Tacoma, to the localities cited in the synonymy,
47.16N 122.30W, from Thomomys ma- specimens came from Benton, Deschutes,
zamci. 10.XI.1947, C. A. Hubbard le«:. Lane, Linn and Wasco counties in Oregon
VOLUME 103.NUMBER4 881
and Pcnd Oreille County in Washington. extendeastwardtoCarson City, thebulkof
Hubbard (1947) also cited three females its range extends northward into central
from Del Norte County in extreme north- California, almost to the Oregon border. In
western California. In passing it should be theabsenceofdocumentedmales,thestatus
noted that Fort Dick. California, the type of the species remains obscure, but the
locality of S. bottaceps. and Smith River. shape ofthe spermatheca and the contours
California, the collection site of Hubbard"s ofSt VII are distinct from other females in
females, areonly slightly more than ten km the genus.
apart, and both are situated on the coastal
plain. Under the circumstance the identity Spicata niiditenacula (Prince 1945)
of these specimens is subject to consider- (Figs. 4-6. 16)
able question. Dactylopsylla (Foxelloides) niiditenacula
Prince 1945: 17. figs. 3-4. USA. Mon-
Spicata Dionticola (Prince 1945) tana. GallatinCounty. 14.5 km NW West
(Figs. 15) Yellowstone, ~44.40N .07W. from
111
Dactylopsylla inonticoki Prince W1945: 17. Miistelafrenata, 24.V.1938. USPHS per-
fig. 7. USA. Nevada. 21 km Carson sonnel leg. Holotype 6. allotype 9.
City. ~-39.10N 119.55W. from Thomo- USNM No. 104661.
mys nionticola. 19.VIII.1937. USPHS Dactylopsylla minidoka Prince and Stark
personnel leg. Holotype 9. USNM No. 1951: 136. figs. 11-15. USA, Utah, Box
104652. Elder County. Raft River Mts. Minidoka
National Forest. 12 km SE Yost, 41.59N
This species, described from two fe- il3.32W. 1981 m. from Thomoniys tal-
males, has evidently not been collected poides. 11.V.1947, K. R. Kelson leg. Ho-
since and the male is unknown. Unlike fe- lotype 3. allotype 2. USNM No.
males of so many ta.xa in this complex of 104649. New synonym.
genera, these females are unequivocally
distinct. The caudal margin of st. VII is I have examined the types ofS. niiditen-
smoothly roundedandlacksalobeorsinus. acula and S. minidoka. as well as a pairof
The spermathecaiselongated, itsbulgaand paratypes ofthe latter, and find them to be
hilla are approximately equal in length and conspecific. Unfortunately. I have only
the latterbearsaconspicuousapical papilla. been able to examine five males and seven
Both the holotype and paratype are in the females from ratherwidely separatedlocal-
USNM. ities. In additiontothetype localitiesofthe
The description places this species "13 twospeciesIhavematerialfromDeschutes,
miles westofCarsonCity.OrmsbyCounty. Harney, Jefferson, and Malheur counties.
Nevada." Carson City is evidently no lon- Based on this distribution it seems that the
ger associated with a county. There is no species is confined to the Great Basin.
Ormsby County in Nevada or any of the
contiguous states and thirteen miles westof Spicatapacifica (Hubbard 1943)
Carson City places the locality approxi- (Figs. 10-12. 17) ^
mately in the center of Lake Tahoe. Since Dactylopsylla (Foxelloides) pacifica Hub-
the United States Public Health Service bard 1943: 4, figure [unnumbered]. USA,
slides usually only indicate the county Oregon, Lincoln County. DeviTs Lake.
wherethe specimenswerecollected,theex- -~44.57N 124.00W. from Thomoniys
act type localitycan notbeestablishedwith nionticola. 26.V1.1943, C. A. Hubbard
any degree ofcertainty. However, the host leg. Holotype 6. allotype 9, USNM No.
was the nominate subspecies of T. iiionri- 57085.
colci. Although the range ofthis taxon does Dactylopsylla nioorei Hubbard 1949: 47.
PROCEEDINGSOFTHEENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETYOFWASHINGTON
pi. 6. USA, Washington. Wahkiakum Acknowledgments
C1o2u3n.t2y2,W,19frkomm NTEhoCmaothmlyasmett,alp4o6i.d1e3sN. lins1.exCtureantdorm.ySaepcptrieocniaotfioInnvteortJeobhrnatEe.ZRoaowl--
27.V.1949.A.W.Mooreleg. Holotype cJ. ogy. Carnegie Museum ofNatural History,
Allotype 9. USNM No. 104653. New Pittsburgh. PA. Nancy E. Adams, Depart-
synonym. ment of Entomology. National Museum of
Dactylopsylla moarei oregono Hubbard Natural History. Smithsonian Institution,
1954: 170. figs, unnumbered. USA. Washington, DC, and Michael W. Hastriter,
Oregon, Lincoln County, Devil's Lake. Monte L. Bean Life Sciences Museum,
~44.57N 124.00W, from Thomomys Brigham Young University. Provo. UT. for
monticola, 8.IX.1949,C. A. Hubbardleg. theloanofsomeofthematerial uponwhich
Holotype 6. allotype 9, USNM No. this study was based.
104665. New synonym.
Literature Cited
I have been able to examine four males Adams. N. E. and R. E. Lewis. 1995. An annotated
and five females of this species, including catalog ofprimary types ofSiphonaptera in the
the holotype and allotypeofS.pacificaand NationalMuesumofNaturalHistory.Smithsonian
holotypes and allotypes ofthe two subspe- Institution.SmithsonianContributionstoZoology
560: 1-86.
cies ofS. moorei. While the nominate sub- Fox.I. 1940.SiphonapterafromwesternUnitedStates.
species ofthe latterwas describedfrom the Journal ofthe Washington Academy ofSciences
most southwestern county of Washington 30: 272-275.
astnadte,S.itmsohooruelidobreegnooitueidwtehratebdoetshcrSi.bpeadciffriocma HubbasHcruadbs.geaCn.nudsA—.theT1i9wr4o3s.manOleulwrreswlpeaestctiieveerssn.tgThiehaneFtoaxpleollcolktaeystp.egAoopfnheDew.r
the same locality and host species in adja- comis. Pacific UniversityBulletin40: 1-8.
cent Clatsop County. Oregon, about six 1947. Fleas ofwestern North America. Iowa
years apart. All three taxa conform to the StateCollegePress.Ames.533pp.
diagnostic characters ofS. pacifica and the 1949. New fleasandrecordsfromthewestern
latter two are thus considered to bejunior selmatyes.ofBSulclieetnicnesof48t:he47S-o5u4t.hern California Acad-
synonyms. 1954. MylastnewNorthAmericanfleas.En-
tomologicalNews65: 169-175.
Spicata rara (\. Fox 1940) Jordan.K. 1929.NotesonNorthAmericanfleas.Nov-
(Figs. 7-9. 18) ilatesZoologicae35: 28-39.
Prince. F M. 1945. Descriptionsofthreenewspecies
Dactylopsylla (Spicata) rara \. Fox 1940: ofDuclyiopsxlla Jordan andone new subspecies
275, figs. 5-6. USA, Colorado. Jackson ofFuxelta Wagner, with recordsofotherspecies
County,sineloco, from Thomomysfossor in thegenera(Siphonaptera). Canadian Entomol-
ogist77: 15-20.
\= talpoides]. 13.VI1.1926. S. C. Mc- Prince.FM.andH.E.Stark. 1951.Fournewfleasof
Campbell leg. Holotype S. USNM No. the genus Dactylopsylla Jordan 1929 (Siphonap-
54013. tera). Pan-PacificEntomologist27: 128-139.
Smit. F G.A.M. 1983. Keytothegeneraandsubgen-
In addition tothe holotypeofthisspecies eraofCeratophyllidae.pp. 1-36.InTraub.R.,M.
fIohuarvfeebmaeleensafblreomtoJeacxkasmoinneanfdiveMomnatleeszuamnad ckRooeltylhesclctohiioltndh,eoafgnedfnleeJa.rsaF. aTHnhadeddhofoawsm,tilerydesl.CaetTrihaoentsoRhpiohptyshl,slciwhdiaietl:hd
counties, Colorado, and Big Horn County. noteson Iheirevolution,zoogeographyandmed-
Wyoming,from ThomomystalpoidesandT. ical importance. Cambridge University Press.
bottae. Most were collected in early May U.K.DistributedbyAcademicPress.Inc.London.
ssoenstheisthmatayadubletsaar"ewimnotsetr"cosmpemcoiensdiunritnhge Wagnep1hr6y.3liJip..p.1w9e2l9c.heUbaeurfdZiieesneolrndaumnedrikMaunrimseclhteieCreernatloe--
the cooler months. ben. Knowia8: 316-318.
