Fleas of the Norway Rat in the Superior, Wisconsin, Harbor Area (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae, Hystrichopsyllidae)

Authors

Darol L. Kaufmann, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Norman D. Radtke, University of California, Los Angeles

Document Type

Peer-Review Article

Abstract

The occurrence of the fleas of the Norway rat, Rattus noruegicus (Berkenhout) was monitored in Superior, Wisconsin, for 12 months. A total of 441 fleas was recovered from 300 rat hosts. Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc), the northern rat flea, was the most abundant species found (94.1%) while Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes pseudagyrtes Baker (5.4%) and Megabothris asio asio (Baker) (0.5%) were also present. The flea index was highest (4.8) in July and lowest (0.2) in February and March. Forty-four percent of the rats examined were infested.

Recommended Citation

Kaufmann, Darol L. and Radtke, Norman D. 1980. "Fleas of the Norway Rat in the Superior, Wisconsin, Harbor Area (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae, Hystrichopsyllidae)," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 13 (2) : 93-95
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.2554
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol13/iss2/5