Ceratophyllidae
Guides
Orchopeas howardi
Grey Squirrel Flea, squirrel flea
Orchopeas howardi is a flea species in the family Ceratophyllidae, commonly known as the grey squirrel flea. It is primarily associated with squirrels (family Sciuridae) as its typical hosts. The species has been documented in North America and Europe, with records from Great Britain, Ireland, France, and Belgium. A documented case from Illinois, USA, recorded this flea on wood ducklings (Aix sponsa), representing an accidental host association rather than typical host use.
Oropsylla hirsuta
prairie dog flea
Oropsylla hirsuta is a flea species and the primary ectoparasite of the black-tailed prairie dog. It serves as a vector of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium causing bubonic plague. Population genetic studies indicate significant structure among prairie dog colonies but no isolation by distance, suggesting fleas disperse independently of host movement. Plague-induced die-offs trigger rapid population expansion from refugia.