THE FLEAS (SIPHONAPTERA) OF ESSEX
197
Ceratophyllus g. gallinae (Schrank), 1803. The European Hen Flea.
This flea is extremely common in the drier nests of many birds, par-
ticularly the passerines. Several ♂♂ and ♀♀ from nest of Corvus
corone, Layer Marney, —.v.36 and —.ix.36, M. Rothschild; 1 9 from
body of Pica pica, Essex, 16.i.35, W. H. Pollen; 1 ♂ from body of
Anthus pratensis, Essex, 28.V.34, W. H. Pollen; 3♂ and ♀♀ from
Parus major, Chingford, 1910, C. Nicholson; 1♀ from Parus coeruleus,
Hockley, 18.V.03, F. W. Frohawk; all these records are from Roths-
child (1952). Bacot (1914) had it from Loughton. Recent records are:
19♂, 17 ♀ from nest of Tree-Sparrow, Sible Hedingham, 21.iv.56, C. D.
Putnam: 115♂, 153 ♀ bred from nest of Passer domesticus, Bradwell-on-
Sea, 28.viii.56 to 3.ii.57, B. C. Hawgood; 1♂, 6♀ from nest linings in
hedgerows. Bradwell-on-Sea, 9-ii to 18.iii.58, B. C. Hawgood; 3 ♀ from
nest of Riparia riparia, Asheldham. 5.i to 27.iii.57, B. C. Hawgood; 3 ♀ from
body of young Starling, Sible Hedingham, 28/29.V.58, C. D. Putnam;
3 9 from nest of House Sparrow. Margaretting. 8.viii.58, Mrs. P. V. Upton;
2d, 3 9 from nest of Tree Creeper, Margaretting, 8.viii.58, Mrs. P. V.
Upton; 1♀ from nest of Passer domesticus, Billericay, —.viii.58, R.
Knowles. Smit tells me he has seen material from the Romford
Sturnus study group.
Ceratophyllus fringillae (Walker), 1856. The House Sparrow Flea.
Smit (1957a) has seen Essex material which came from the Romford
Sturnus study group; 1♂, 4♀ from nest of Riparia riparia, Asheldham,
5.1. to 27.iii.57, B. C. Hawgood.
Ceratophyllus s. styx Rothschild, 1900. The Sand Martin Flea. When
establishing the identity of the nominate subspecies Smit (1955) reported
this flea from Stanstead and Harlow. B. C. Hawgood bred 3♂, 1♀
from nests of Riparia riparia which had also been occupied by Passer
domesticus, Asheldham, 5.i. to 27.iii.57.
Ceratophyllus garei Rothschild, 1902. Rothschild (1952) reports 1♂.
Hockley, 25.V.03, F. W. Frohawk. More recently, 3 9 from small nest
in hedge near Abberton Reservoir, 24.i.57, B. C. Hawgood.
Thus 26 forms of fleas are known from Essex out of the 61 listed from
the British Isles. Eventually some 40 forms should be found in the
county and the following hosts should be productive, either directly
from their bodies or from their nests: Long-tailed Field Mouse, voles,
Mole, bats, Badger, crows, Rook, House-Martin, domestic pigeon gone
feral. I shall be very glad to determine any material sent to me.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I owe my very sincere thanks to Mr. A. C. Wheeler for encouraging
me to get on with this paper, to Mrs. P. V. Upton and Messrs. B. C.
Hawgood, C. D. Putnam, A. J. E. Harman, R. Knowles, D. Chapman
and A. C. Wheeler for variously sending specimens and local lists and
to both Mr. G. G. Stewart, County Medical Officer of Health for the
County of Essex and Miss E. Page, Librarian to the Royal Entomol-
ogical Society of London for their help with literature.