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Consumption of flea faeces and eggs by larvae of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis

2002; Wiley; Volume: 16; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1365-2915.2002.00388.x

1365-2915

Meng-Hao Hsu, Yu‐Kuei Hsu, Wen‐Jer Wu,

Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies

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.