Hectopsylla broscus, Jordan & Rothschild, 1906

Ezquiaga, María Cecilia & Soibelzon, Esteban, 2021, New records of fleas and ticks in armadillos (Xenarthra: Chlamyphoridae) from the Espinal and Monte ecoregions of La Pampa province, Argentina, Zootaxa 4950 (3), pp. 595-600 : 598

Hectopsylla broscus Jordan & Rothschild, 1906

( Fig. 2c )

Specimens examined: 2 females in 1 individual of C. villosus .

Parasitological índices. P=7%; MA=0.1; MI=2

Type host and locality. Conepatus humboldtii , “Pampa Central”, Argentina .

Geographic range. endemic to Argentina (provinces of Jujuy, Mendoza, San Luis) .

Remarks. This species is characterized by having six pairs of lateral plantar bristles on the fifth tarsal segment and females possessing a well-defined lobe in the posterior margin of the occipital region ( Hastriter & Méndez 2000). This flea has been found mainly on skunks of the genus Conepatus ; thus, it has been suggested that these mammals are their preferred hosts ( Hastriter & Méndez 2000). However, the finding of H. broscus on C. villosus and other xenarthran species like Zaedyus pichiy and Chlamyphorus truncatus ( Mauri & Navone 1993; Lareschi et al. 2016) proves that these mammals could also be its usual hosts. Females of the genus Hectopsylla are semi-sessile and are anchored in position by their laciniae, which are broad, heavily-serrated blades ( Rothschild 1992), suggesting an adaptation to the habits of their hosts.

This report is the first record of H. broscus parasitizing C. villosus and the first for the province of La Pampa.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Ectoparasites of armadillos. a) Phthiropsylla agenoris, female. b) Malacopsylla grossiventris, male. c) Hectopsylla broscus, female. d) Amblyomma pseudoconcolor, male.