title: Egg production and emergence of adult cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) exposed to different photoperiods.
abstract: Laboratory cats were infested with a known number of cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), to determine the effects of photoperiod on flea egg production. Photoperiods of 8:16, 12:12, and 16:8 (L:D) h were chosen to represent winter, spring/fall, and summer, respectively. There were no significant differences in daily or total flea egg production among the 3 photoperiods. To determine the effects of photoperiod on development of immature stages and subsequent adult emergence from cocoons, eggs collected during each photoperiod experiment were reared under the 3 described light and dark conditions. Resulting differences suggest that photoperiod may influence the emergence behavior of adults from cocoons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rust
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D010063:Ovum; D017440:Photoperiod; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*