title: Consumption of flea faeces and eggs by larvae of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis.
abstract: The effects of the consumption of flea faeces and non-viable eggs on larval development in the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) were investigated. Only 13.3% of larvae developed into adults when fed a diet of male or female flea faeces alone; however, 90% of larvae developed into adults when fed on flea faeces supplemented with non-viable flea eggs. When fed with non-viable eggs alone, larvae did not develop into adults. Nevertheless, non-viable eggs may provide critical supplemental nutrients, lacking in flea faeces and required for larval development. None of the larvae fed on flea faeces or non-viable eggs alone formed a cocoon. A diet of flea faeces alone significantly extended the second as well as third larval stadia compared to larvae fed on diets containing non-viable eggs. It is suggested that the cannibalism of fertile eggs may limit population growth in the cat flea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002190:Cannibalism; D002415:Cats; D004032:Diet; D005243:Feces; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D010063:Ovum; D011157:Population Dynamics; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology*