Photograph courtesy of Hamish Robertson, South African Museum

The Pulicid Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) of South Africa

Compiled by Joyce Segerman

Department of Medical Entomology, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg, 2001 South Africa

© Copyright of this page belongs to the author.
Yours is the access since 1st January 2000

Family: PULICIDAE

Subfamily: PULICINAE

Genus: MOEOPSYLLA Rothschild
1. M. sjoestedti Rothschild
  
  Moeopsylla sjoestedti Rothschild 1908: 3.
  Mpumalanga and Northern Province, to Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Phacochoerus aethiopicus and Potamochoerus porcus.
Genus: PULEX Linnaeus
1. P. irritans Linnaeus
  
  Pulex irritans Linnaeus 1758: 614.
  = Pulex vulgaris De Geer 1778: 8.
  = Pulex hominis Dugés 1832: 163.
  = Pulex simulans Baker 1895: 65
  = Pulex conepati Cunha 1914: 132
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Province, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Zimbabwe and Namibia, Europe and America;
  hosted by Homo sapiens, Rattus spp., Felis domesticus, Canis familiaris , C. adjustus , C. mesomelas , Felis caracal , Suricata suricatta, Xerus inauris , Crocuta crocuta and cattle.
Genus: PHACOPSYLLA Beaucornu & Horak
1. P. inexpecta (Smit)
  
  Echidnophaga inexpecta Smit: 1950: 272.
  KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Province, to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya;
  hosted by Phacochoerus aethiopicus .
Genus: ECHIDNOPHAGA Olliff
1. E. aethiops Jordan & Rothschild
  
  Echidnophaga aethiops Jordan & Rothschild 1906: 51.
  Northern Cape, to Namibia;
  hosted by Nycteris capensis, N. grandis, N. thebaica , Hipposideros caffer, Rhinolophus darlingi, R. simulator, and Eptesicus hottentotus.
2. E. larina Jordan & Rothschild
  
  Echidnophaga larina Jordan & Rothschild 1906: 49.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Province and Northwestern Province, to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique;
  hosted by Phacochoerus aethiopicus , Potamochoerus porcus, Manis temmincki, Orycteropus afer, Canis mesomelas, Lycaon pictus, Vulpes chama, Genetta genetta, Ichneumia albicauda, Suricata suricatta, Proteles cristatus, Hyaena brunnea, Crocuta crocuta, Felis lybica, F. nigripes, F. caracal, F. serval, Panthera leo, P. pardus , Sylvicapra grimmia, Tragelaphus scriptus, Hystrix africaeaustralis, and Urocolius indicus.
3. E. bradyta Jordan & Rothschild
  
  Echidnophaga bradyta Jordan & Rothschild 1906: 47.
  Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northwestern Province, and Northern Cape;
  hosted by Suricata suricatta, Cynictis penicillata, Xerus inauris , Pedetes capensis and Ictonyx striatus.
4. E. suricatta Hastriter, 2000
  
  Echidnophaga suricatta Hastriter 2000: 77-80.
  Free State, Northern Cape;
  hosted by Suricata suricatta and Herpestes badius.
5. E. gallinacea (Westwood)
  
  Sarcopsyllus gallinaceus Westwood 1875: 246.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Province, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, north;
  hosted by Rattus spp, Suricata suricatta, Cynictis penicillata, Xerus inauris , Elephantulus brachyrhinchus, E. rupestris, Macroscelides proboscideus, Petrodromus tetradactylus, Erinaceus frontalis, Papio ursinus, Canis mesomelas, Vulpes chama, Ictonyx striatus, Atilax paludinosus , Civettictis civetta, Genetta genetta, Ichneumia albicauda, Mungos mungo, Paranyctis selousi, Proteles cristatus, Hyaena brunnea, Felis lybica, F. nigripes, F. caracal, F. serval, Pantera pardus , Lepus capensis, L. saxatilis, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Pronolagus randensis, Histrix africaeaustralis, Petromus typicus , Pedetes capensis , Accipiter melanoleucus, Melitophagus bullockoides, M. pusillus, Asio capensis, Motacillia capensis, Myrmecocichla arnotti, Riparia paludicola, Lanarius ferrugineus, Ortygospiza atricallis, Quelea quelea, Passer melanurus, and Serinus flaviventris.
Genus: NEOTUNGA Smit
1. N. euloidea Smit
  
  Neotunga euloidea Smit 1962: 366.
  Northern Province, to Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Manis temmincki .

Subfamily: ARCHAEOPSYLLINAE

Genus: CTENOCEPHALIDES Stiles & Collins
1. C. connatus (Jordan)
  
  Ctenocephalus connatus Jordan 1925: 98.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Province, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Namibia and Botswana;
  hosted by Xerus inaurus , Suricata suricatta , Cynictis penicillata , Vulpes chama, Canis mesomelas , Ictonyx striatus, Mungos mungo, Felis lybica, F. nigripes, Lepus capensis, L. saxatilis, Pronolagus crassicaudatus , Pedetes capensis , Erinaceus frontalis, Xerus princeps , and Procavia capensis .
2. C. canis (Curtis)
  
  Pulex canis Curtis 1826: 114.
  Urban centers of Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northwestern Province and Gauteng;
  hosted by Canis familiarus , Rattus rattus , Suricata suricatta , Ichneumia albicauda, Histrix africaeaustralis and Lepus saxatilis .
3. C. felis strongylus (Jordan)
  
  Ctenocephalus felis strongylus Jordan 1925: 98.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Province, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique;
  hosted by Canis familiaris and Felis domesticus .
4. C. felis damarensis Jordan
  
  Ctenocephalus felis damarensis Jordan 1936: 84.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Province, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique;
  hosted by Lepus capensis , L. saxatilis , Pronolagus crassicaudatus , P. randensis , Canis mesomelas , Canis adjustus , Mellivora capensis , Peocilogale albinucha , Ictonyx striatus , Atilax paludinosus , Civettictis civetta, Cynictis penicillata , Genetta tigrina , Genetta genetta, Helogale parvula , Herpestes ichneumon , Ichneumia albicauda, Mungos mungo, Paranyctis selousi, Suricata suricatta, Crocuta crocuta, Acinonyx jubatus , Felis caracal , F. lybica, F. serval, Panthera leo, P. pardus , Alcelaphus bucelaphus , Cephalophus natalensis , Sylvicapra grimmia , Oreotragus oreotragus , Raphicerus melanotus , Tragalephus scriptus , Phacochoerus aethiopicus , Dendrohyrax arboreus , Procavia capensis , Hystrix africaeaustralis , Xerus inaurus , Pedetes capensis , Thryonomys swinderianus , Papio ursinus , Crocidura hirta , Erinaceus frontalis, Petrodromus tetradactylus, Elephantulus rupestris and E. brachyrhynchus .

Subfamily: XENOPSYLLINAE

Genus: PARIODONTIS Jordan & Rothschild
1. P. riggenbachi riggenbachi (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex riggenbachi Rothschild 1904: 611.
  Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northwestern Province, to Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Hystrix africaeaustralis and Pedetes capensis .
Genus: SYNOSTERNUS Jordan
1. S. caffer (Jordan & Rothschild)
  
  Xenopsylla caffer Jordan & Rothschild 1923: 293.
  Free State, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Botswana;
  hosted by Pedetes capensis , Canis mesomelas , Otocyon megalotis , Vulpes chama, Suricata suricatta , Cynictis penicillata , Mungos mungo, Hyaena brunnea, Pedetes capensis , Lepus capensis and Xerus inauris .
Genus: PROCAVIOPSYLLA Jordan
1. P. angolensis Jordan
  
  Procaviopsylla angolensis Jordan 1925: 102.
  Northwestern Province and Northern Province, to Namibia and Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Procavia capensis , Pronolagus crassicaudatus and Lepus saxatilis.
2. P. creusae (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex creusae Rothschild 1904: 54.
  Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal;
  hosted by Procavia capensis , Cryptomys hottentotus and Felis caracal .
3. P. divergens (Jordan & Rothschild)
  
  Loemopsylla divergens Jordan & Rothschild 1908: 57.
  Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal;
  hosted by Procavia capensis and Felis caracal .
Genus: XENOPSYLLA Glinkiewicz
1. X. bechuanae DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla bechuanae DeMeillon 1947: 123.
  Mpumalanga, Northern Province and Northwestern Province, to Botswana and Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Saccostomus campestris .
2. X. brasiliensis (Baker)
  
  Pulex brasiliensis Baker 1904: 378.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern PRovince, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia;
  hosted by Rattus rattus , Proamys natalensis , Aethomys namaquensis , A. chrysophilus , Thallomys paedulcus , Paraxerus cepapi , Graphiurus murinus , Cynictis penicillata , Atilax paludinosus , Genetta genetta, Felis lybica, Procavia capensis , Lepus saxatilis, Crocidura flavescens , C. luna , Elephantulus rupestris and E. brachyrhynchus .
3. X. cornigera Smit
  
  Xenopsylla cornigera Smit 1956: 312.
  = Xenopsylla hamula Hopkins & Rothschild 1953: 302, (part; nec Xenopsylla hamula Jordan 1925: 99.)
  Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Acomys spinosissimus , Graphiurus murinus , and Myosorex cafer .
4. X. hamula Jordan
  
  Xenopsylla hamula Jordan 1925: 99.
  Eastern Cape (endemic);
  hosted by Graphiurus murinus and Thamnomys dolichurus .
5. X. zumpti Haeselbarth
  
  = Xenopsylla robertsi DeMeillon, Davis & Hardy 1961: 91 (part).
  Xenopsylla zumpti Haeselbarth 1963: 70.
  KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Province, to Mozambique;
  hosted by Tyto alba and Paraxerus cepapi .
6. X. scopulifer (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex scopulifer Rothschild 1905: 480.
  Eastern CApe, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and Northwestern Province, to Botswana and Namibia;
  hosted by Saccostomus campestris .
7. X. torta (Jordan & Rothschild)
  
  Loemopsylla tortus Jordan & Rothschild 1908: 53.
  = Xenopsylla achilla DeMeillon 1947: 122.
  Northern Province, to Mozambique and Zimbabwe;
  hosted by Cricetomys gambianus , Praomys natalensis and Aethomys chrysophilus .
8. X. syngenis Jordan
  
  Xenopsylla syngenis Jordan 1937: 297.
  Zimbabwe and Malawi;
  hosted by Saccostomys campestris , Tatera leucogaster and Felis lybica.
9. X. cheopis (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex cheopis Rothschild 1903: 85.
  = Pulex murinus Tiraboschi 1904: 252.
  = Pulex philippinensis Schultze & Herzog 1904: 77.
  = Xenopsylla pachyuromyidis Glinkiewicz 1907: 385.
  = Pulex tripolitanus Fulmek 1909: 289.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Northern Province, to Mozambique and Zimbabwe and Namibia;
  hosted by Rattus rattus R. norvegicus , Mus musculus , Genetta genetta, Damaliscus dorcas , Histrix africaeaustralis and Crocidura hirta .
10. X. nubica (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex nubicus Rothschild 1903: 84.
  = Pulex chersinus Rothschild 1906: 75.
  Botswana;
  hosted by Tatera ** sp. , Ichneumia albicauda and Genetta genetta.
11. X. philoxera Hopkins
  
  = Xenopsylla eridos Ingram 1928: 371, (nec Pulex eridos Rothschild 1904: 611).
  Xenopsylla philoxera Hopkins 1949: 251.
  Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Botswana and Namibia;
  hosted by Tatera brantsii , T. leucogaster , Ictonyx striatus, Lepus capensis, Desmodillus auricularis , Gerbillurus paeba , Parotomys brantsii , Xerus inauris , Cryptomys hottentotus and Crocidura hirta .
12. X. frayi DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla frayi DeMeillon 1937: 403.
  KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Northern Province;
  hosted by Tatera leucogaster , Aethomys chrysophilus and Praomys coucha .
13. X. mulleri DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla mulleri DeMeillon 1947: 121.
  Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Botswana, Namibia and Zambia;
  hosted by Tatera brantsii .
14. X. geldenhuysi DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla geldenhuysi DeMeillon 1949: 244.
  KwaZulu-Natal;
  hosted by Tatera brantsii .
15. X. hipponax DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla hipponax DeMeillon 1942: 85.
  Free State, Northern Cape, Northwestern Province and Northern Province, to Zimbabwe and Botswana;
  hosted by Tatera leucogaster , T. valida , T. brantsii , Praomys natalensis , Aethomys chrysophilus , Xerus inauris .
16. X. phyllomae DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla phyllomae DeMeillon 1934: 265.
  Northern Province and Northwestern Province, to Botswana;
  hosted by Tatera leucogaster , T. brantsii and Aethomys chrysophilus .
17. X. occidentalis DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla occidentalis DeMeillon 1938: 465.
  Namibia (endemic);
  hosted by Parotomys littledalei namibensis .
18. X. trifaria DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla trifaria DeMeillon 1930: 250.
  = Xenopsylla trifaria orientalis Marcus, DeMeillon & Davis 1960: 3.
  Western Cape and Northern Cape, to Namibia;
  hosted by Gerbillurus paeba , Desmodillus auricularis and Tatera afra .
19. X. versuta Jordan
  
  Xenopsylla versuta Jordan 1925: 100.
  Northern Province, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Botswana and Namibia;
  hosted by Rhabdomys pumilo , Aethomys namaquensis , Graphiurus murinus , Xerus inauris and Funisciurus congicus .
20. X. eridos (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex eridos Rothschild 1904: 611.
  = Xenopsylla pasiphae DeMeillon 1947: 119.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape;
  hosted by Parotomys brantsii , Otomys unisulcatus and Tatera afra .
21. X. piriei Ingram
  
  = Xenopsylla eridos Jordan 1926: 613, (nec Pulex eridos Rothschild 1904: 611).
  Xenopsylla piriei Ingram 1928: 371.
  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northwestern Province and Northern Cape, to Namibia and Botswana;
  hosted by Desmodilus auricularis , Tatera brantsii , T. leucogaster , Gerbilurus paeba , G. vallinus , Parotomys brantsii , Graphiurus murinus , Cryptomys hottentotus , Lepus capensis and Cynictis penicillata .
22. X. sulcata Ingram
  
  Xenopsylla sulcata Ingram 1928: 374.
  Western Cape (endemic);
  hosted by Tatera afra .
23. X. hirsuta hirsuta Ingram
  
  Xenopsylla hirsuta Ingram 1928: 372.
  Xenopsylla hirsuta ssp. placida DeMeillon & Hardy 1951: 33.
  Xenopsylla hirsuta ssp. multisetosa Haeselbarth 1964: 49.
  Western Cape (endemic);
  hosted by Tatera afra , Parotomys brantsii , Gerbillurus paeba , Rhabdomys pumilio , Otomys unisulcatus and O. irroratus .
24. X. lobengulai DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla lobengulai DeMeillon 1930: 139.
  Western Cape (endemic);
  hosted by Tatera afra .
25. X. davisi DeMeillon
  
  Xenopsylla davisi DeMeillon 1940: 151.
  Western Cape (endemic);
  hosted by Gerbillurus paeba and Tatera afra .
26. X. demeilloni Haeselbarth
  
  Xenopsylla demeilloni Haeselbarth 1964: 57.
  Western Cape and Northern Cape (endemic);
  hosted by Gerbillurus paeba , Tatera afra and Desmodillus auricularis .
27. X. erilli (Rothschild)
  
  Pulex erilli Rothschild 1904: 610.
  Northern Cape, to Botswana and Namibia;
  hosted by Xerus inauris , Suricata suricatta , Mungos mungo, Ictonyx striatus and Proteles cristatus.
28. X. cryptonella DeMeillon & Hardy
  
  Xenopsylla cryptonella DeMeillon & Hardy 1954: 78.
  Free State and Northwestern Province (endemic);
  hosted by Xerus inauris , Suricata suricatta , Cynictis penicillata , Ictonyx striatus and Pedetes capensis .
29. X. trispinis Waterston
  
  Xenopsylla trispinis Waterston 1911: 192.
  Northern Cape, to Botswana and Namibia;
  hosted by Hirundo spilodera .

References

Hastriter, M.W. 2000.: Echidnophaga suricatta (Siphonatpera: Pulicidae), a new species of flea from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. African Zoology 35: 77-83.

This part of A Catalogue of South African Insects revised: