196 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
reference. The Serotine Bat is also a normal host. From the body of
a dead bat at Chelmsford, E. E. Syms (Syms, 1954).
Ischnopsyllus hexactenus (Kolenati), 1856. A common flea on the Long-
Eared Bat. 1 9 from Plecotus auritus, Hockley, 26.iv.03, F. W. Frohawk
(Hopkins and Rothschild, 1956).
*Ischnopsyllus s. simplex Rothschild, 1906. 29 from Natterer's Bat.
and 1 9 from Daubenton's Bat, a dene-hole, Grays, 7.iii.59, D. Chap-
man (per A. C. Wheeler).
*Ischnopsyllus octactenus (Kolenati), 1856. 1 9 from a Pipistrelle
Bat. Buckhurst Hill, 15.vi.53, D. Chapman.
LEPTOPSYLLIDAE
*Leptopsylla segnis (Schonherr), 1811. The House Mouse Flea. No
doubt a common flea in Essex but I have only one record: 1♂ in an
old sack in a garage, Billericay, —.v.58, R. Knowles.
CERATOPHYLLIDAE
Dasypsyllus g. gallinulae (Dale), 1878. The Moorhen Flea. This is quite
a common bird flea, often found in dampish nests. Sc? from Aegithalos
caudatus (L.), Essex, 1910, H. Russell (Rothschild, 1952), is the only
published record. I know of: 1♂, nest of wren, Norsey Wood, Bil-
lericay, —.viii.57, R. Knowles; 1♂, 6♀, nest of the Gold Crest, Park
Lodge, Margaretting, 30.vii.58, Mrs. P. V. Upton.
*Orchopeas h. howardi (Baker), 1895. The Grey Squirrel Flea. I
have found this in immense numbers in the drey. Dasgupta (1958) and
Dasgupta and Meedeniya (1958) report it from Essex in their researches
on the protoza Matthesia orchopiae and Hepatozoon sciuri respectively.
Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc), 1800. The Rat Flea. Strickland and
Merriman (1913), during their investigations on rat fleas and plague
collected fleas from several Essex localities—Washbrook and Great
Bergholt (from these districts rats suffering from plague were gathered)
and Dedham, Ardleigh, Lawford, Langham, Boxted and Great Hawkes-
ley (rats collected in these districts were free from plague). I have
but two recent records: Smit (1957a) records seeing Essex specimens;
5 9 from nest linings, Bradwell-on-Sea, 9.ii to 18.iii.58, B ,C. Hawgood.
Megabothris turbidus (Rothschild), 1909. This is a fairly common
flea on voles. Essex specimens have been seen by Smit (1957a); 1 9
from nest linings in hedgerow. Bradwell-on-Sea, 9.ii to 18.iii.58. B. C.
Hawgood.
Megabothris walkeri (Rothschild). 1902. This is another vole flea
which tends to favour damp situations. Strickland and Merriman (1913)
collected it from rats in Bentley (1) and Lawford (1).
Monopsyllus s. sciurorum (Schrank), 1803. The Red Squirrel Flea. The
only record available in Smit's (1957a) comments that he has seen Essex
material.