title: Effect of temperature on cat flea (Siphonaptera:Pulicidae) development and overwintering.
abstract: Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), were reared at different temperatures to examine further the effects on egg-to-adult development and emergence of adults from cocoons. Three different temperatures (26.7, 21.1, and 15.5 degrees C) were used to rear fleas. Emergence of adults from cocoons was monitored using 2 experimental designs-cocoons maintained in groups and cocoons individually isolated. At cooler temperatures, cocoons kept in groups had a higher incidence of late-emerging adults than did individual cocoons. At 15.5 degrees C, adults continued to emerge from grouped cocoons up to 80 d after all had emerged from individual cocoons. Developmental time of prepupae and pupae was determined by inhibiting cocoon formation of late 3rd instars. Male prepupae and pupae developed approximately 20% slower than did females. Comparisons between emergence of adults from cocoons and from naked pupae indicate that a large percentage of adults emerge from cocoons soon after molting. The possible association of developmental temperatures and emergence from cocoons with overwintering populations is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521-0314, 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; D002415:Cats / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011679:Pupa; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature