Oropsylla hirsuta

(Baker, 1895)

prairie dog flea

Oropsylla hirsuta is a and the primary of the black-tailed prairie dog. It serves as a of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium causing . genetic studies indicate significant structure among prairie dog colonies but no isolation by distance, suggesting fleas disperse independently of movement. -induced die-offs trigger rapid population expansion from refugia.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Oropsylla hirsuta: /ˌoʊrəpˈsɪlə hɜrˈsuːtə/

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Habitat

Prairie dog colonies; specifically associated with black-tailed prairie dog burrow systems.

Distribution

Western North America; documented from 11 prairie dog colonies in genetic studies with occurring among colonies without strict geographic isolation.

Host Associations

black-tailed prairie dog - primary O. hirsuta is the primary of this

Behavior

Disperses among prairie dog colonies through mechanisms not exclusively dependent on prairie dog movement; expand rapidly following -induced die-offs via re- from plague-free refugia.

Ecological Role

of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium; are tightly coupled to plague and prairie dog colony mortality events.

Human Relevance

Potential public health concern as a of ; management of prairie dog is considered for interrupting transmission in western North America.

Similar Taxa

Oropsylla montanaAlso a in western North America; O. montana is associated with rock squirrels and ground squirrels rather than prairie dogs, and is noted as the most important human plague vector in New Mexico.

More Details

Population Genetics

A study of 332 fleas from 226 detected 24 unique COII haplotypes. Colonies decimated by in 1994 showed signatures of recent expansion, while plague-negative colonies showed stable haplotype patterns.

Vector Management

Insect-pathogenic fungi in the and Metarhizium are being investigated as biocontrol agents for prairie dog fleas, with dust for burrow application under evaluation.