Bat flea

Ischnopsyllus octactenus

FAMILY

Ischnopsyllidae

TAXONOMY

Ischnopsyllus octactenus Kolenati, 1856. Type locality not specified.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Yellowish-brown in color. Males reach 0.09 in (2.4 mm), and females grow to 0.1 in (2.5 mm). Head, thorax, abdomen, and legs are exceptionally long and slender. The front of the head has two posteriorly directed spatulate ctenidia. Pronotum has a comb of 28 pointed ctenidia. Metanotum and abdominal terga I–VI have ctenidial combs.

DISTRIBUTION

Europe, southern British Isles and Scandinavia, Canary Islands, North Africa and the northern Middle East to Pakistan.

HABITAT

The bat known as Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhli) rests under the leaves and in the attics of houses, often providing close access for adult fleas.

BEHAVIOR

Bat fleas parasitize bats that roost in areas that bring them into close association with adult fleas. Immature stages develop on the substrate below roosting bats, requiring adult fleas to climb to access the bats or to crawl up on them when baby bats fall from the ceiling and are retrieved by their mothers.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Host preferences include bats of the family Vespertilionidae, particularly Pipistrellus kuhli.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nothing is known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.