THE FLEAS OF CANADA, ALASKA AND GREENLAND (SIPHONAPTERA)

• Published in: Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
• Main Author: Holland, George P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1985
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Greenland; Subarctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/entm117130fv; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0071075X00002459

Abstract In a sense, this book is an expanded version of an earlier work by this author entitled “The Siphonaptera of Canada”, published in 1949. It is extended beyond the political confines of this country and includes treatment of the fauna of Alaska and Greenland, as well as much new distributional information on the fleas of Canada, especially the Canadian north. This latter was made possible by the Northern Insect Survey (1947-1962), mostly directed by the late Dr. T.N. Freeman, which involved the establishment of about 80 field parties in the Arctic and Subarctic Regions of Canada, Alaska and Greenland.A section on flea anatomy in relation to taxonomy is followed by a key to the genera. Then the six families and 15 sub-families, 60 genera and subgenera, and 183 species and subspecies, of fleas are carefully described and illustrated. Under the description of each species is a detailed listing of all specimens available to the author, West to East. This is followed by a host-flea index providing a taxonomic list of all the species of mammals and birds from which fleas have been taken. Distribution maps have been prepared illustrating all the collection records of flea species. Sometimes the known ranges of mammal hosts are included, where there is evidence of a strong host association.