The effects of flea egg consumption on larval cat flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) development.
Cat flea larvae feeding on the feces of adult fleas that were maintained on cats and were provided with frozen flea eggs ad libitum each consumed an average of 21.7 +/- 3.9 eggs and developed rapidly with 100% adult emergence. In contrast, 93.4% of larvae held individually and provided with only flea feces did not survive to the adult stage. Developing larvae consumed eggs in the presence of yeast and rearing diet. In a second experiment, larvae provided with flea feces and eggs and maintained at 55% RH consumed 26.9 +/- 2.7 eggs per larva, compared to larvae maintained at 75% RH that consumed 20.4 +/- 1.9 eggs per larva.
Lawrence
W
W
Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803-1710, USA.
Foil
L D
LD
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D010063:Ovum; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*