Sticktight Flea
Echidnophaga gallinacea
This record describes Echidnophaga gallinacea (species). Recorded family: Pulicidae. Recorded order: Siphonaptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Echidnophaga gallinacea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidnophaga_gallinacea.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Siphonaptera (Fleas)
- Family
- Pulicidae
- Genus
- Echidnophaga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Cosmopolitan, accidentally introduced in North America with poultry.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Blood of poultry and many other birds and mammals
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Echidnophaga gallinacea (Westwood 1875)
About Fleas: the wider group
Order-level background for Siphonaptera, the group containing Echidnophaga gallinacea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Siphonaptera (fleas) includes ~2,500 described species. Fleas can jump up to 150 times their own body length - equivalent to a human jumping over a 75-story building. This makes them the best jumpers relative to body size of any animal.
Ecological role of the group
Fleas have been parasitizing mammals for at least 165 million years based on fossil evidence. They can transmit diseases including plague, murine typhus, and tapeworms. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The U.S. pet flea treatment market is worth over $4.4 billion annually. Historically, rat fleas transmitted the bubonic plague (Black Death), which killed an estimated 75-200 million people in the 14th century - roughly 30-60% of Europe's population.
Recorded sources for this group: CDC, WHO, pet industry market research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Sticktight Flea (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Boone; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Sticktight Flea
How big is Sticktight Flea?
1.5-4 mm
Where is Sticktight Flea found?
Range: Cosmopolitan, accidentally introduced in North America with poultry.
What does Sticktight Flea eat?
The diet of the Sticktight Flea includes Blood of poultry and many other birds and mammals.