Overview

of the Squirrel Flea, Orchopeas Howardi

Authors: Maci Hanson, Edward Diaz, Sonia Martinez, Matthew Rodgers, Junior Garza

ABSTRACT
Orchopeas Howardi, also known as the squirrel flea is present mainly in Eastern parts of the US
and all throughout Europe. This vector is known to transmit Rickettsia typhi, a bacteria known
to cause epidemic typhus, thus indicating its medical importance. This vector and bacteria are
thought to be responsible for the disease infesting patients across the US. Tests on the tissues
of the patients, squirrels and rats affected were performed to evaluate the potential vector,
Orchopeas howardi. Orchopeas howardi is part of Ceratophyllidae family and the order
Siphonaptera (fleas). The squirrel flea mates the same as other fleas, and exhibits the same
holometabolus life cycle common to other fleas as well. The mating process involved a male
coming into contact with a female and using his maxillary palps to initiate reproduction, which
takes place at all times of the year. The fleas life cycle is affected by environmental conditions,
as it thrives in temperate conditions. In the right conditions, the flea feeds on the blood of its
hosts using exploratory probing in mammals and some avian species. The flea often carries
bacteria that can infect the host by infecting the bacteria is in the bloodstream of a human
host. It is transmitted human to human via the common human body louse. In other
mammalian species, the vector infects its host and once another flea bites the host, the new
vector carries to another animal. The flea is a common vector of many biologically relevant
diseases, but the importance of the species Orchopeas howardi is decreasing as the number of
annual human cases is declining quickly.
Key Words: Orchopeas Howardi; Squirrel; Flea; Typhus; vector

INTRODUCTION
Based on the symptoms, and tests done on patient tissues a vector of Orchopeas Howardi, was
determined. This vector is also known as the squirrel flea, and is commonly associated with the
bacteria Rickettsia typhi which often causes endemic typhus. The vector Orchopeas Howardi
often associates with tree squirrels during the fall and winter. The vector is found in temperate
climates in Northern, Eastern and some southern European countries and is also found in the
US, mainly east of the Rocky Mountains. The vector Orchopeas Howardi shows common traits
to other fleas in regards to its life cycle and mating patterns. It has special adaptations that
allow it to bind to a host easily, to jump and to suck blood. These adaptations allow this species
of flea to survive and reproduce viable offspring. The squirrel flea has a normal feeding, life
cycle and mating compared to any other flea, but has unique geographical ranges.

DISCUSSION:
Orchopeas Howardi, also known as the squirrel flea is part of the order Siphonaptera
and family Ceratophyllidae. The order siphonaptera is commonly known as fleas, which explains
the squirrel fleas resemblance to other common fleas like the cat and dog fleas. Orchopeas
Howardi is a dark, laterally flattened flea that feeds off of the blood of mammals and some
avian species. The flea is small in size (1-10mm at most) and has long legs specifically adapted
for jumping. Its mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood, as this is its
primary nutrition. The flea locates on the host, and feeding is initiated by the warmth of the
body, skin secretions and odors emerging from the host. (Figure 2). In order to initiate feeding
the flea must begin the process with a process called exploratory probing. During this process
the flea injects anticoagulant saliva into the wound in order to locate blood in the host. After
locating viable bloodstream in the host the flea uses a fascicle to pierce the skin and enter the
blood vessel. Once the epipharynx enters the vessel, blood is pumped up though the food canal
to be digested by the flea. On average the common female flea will feed for a total of 25
minutes and the male flea will feed for only 11 minutes. The large difference in feed time is due
to the female flea processing and digesting the blood twice as fast for the necessary nutrients
for egg laying (Burton, M. and R. Buton 567-571). The vector is able to oviposit, mate, defecate,
deposit eggs, and produce larvae after feeding (Figure 2). The larvae are not commonly found
on the host, but often found on squirrel nests where they survive by feeding on organic debris.
The abundance of fleas in different areas is a direct correlation to environmental
factors. These factors are mostly related to climate, weather and soil conditions and vary
amongst different flea species. Orchopeas Howardi, is found mostly throughout Europe and the
US, and in some regions of the southern Middle East (Map 1). The countries predominantly
inhabiting Orchopeas Howardi are Northern European countries specifically the United
Kingdom, and parts of the US east of the Rocky Mountains. The fleas are found predominantly
in cosmopolitan areas, as are most fleas due to the abundance and availability of hosts. The
squirrel fleas is also similar to most fleas in that fact that it thrives in humid, temperate
environments. This allows fleas to be able live without a host for longer periods of times and
the flea larvae a better chance of survival (Mullen, G. and L. Duden 200).
The life cycle of Orchopeas Howardi, follows that of a normal holometabolus insect,
meaning their life cycle includes four stages: egg, larval, pupal and adult. The eggs are laid in a
host, in the bedding of a bird, human or other species, cracks of floors or carpet. The female
flea can lay hundreds of thousands of eggs in a lifetime, making fleas easily reproducible. The
eggs hatch in about 7-14 days, followed immediately by a larval phase including two molts. A
molt is the shedding of a layer in order to make room for new growth, and allows the insect to
grow rapidly. After two molts, the fleas pupate within a thin silk cocoon and can stay in this
phase for a long duration (Mullen, G. and L. Duden 197-199). Once favorable conditions are
present, the life cycle can be completed in less than a month.
The squirrel flea also exhibits common mating behaviors of other fleas. Fleas mate year
round, and mating is initiated after the female has her first blood meal. Mating takes place
when the male and female come into contact and the male probes the female with his maxillary
palps, causing the antennae to become erect. The male then pushes his body beneath her and
rises the apex of his abdomen to extrude the penis, initiating copulation. Sperm deposited into
the female is stored in her spermathecal until her eggs are ready for fertilization (Mullen, G.
and L. Duden 201). The mating behavior and fertilization process is affected by the climate of
the flea and the capacity of the meal the female was able to obtain before mating. The larger
the meal, the more eggs the female is able to supply and will lay. The female can initially lay
many eggs at a time (35-40 a day), but over the course of her life will lay less and less. In total, a
female can produce 200-400 eggs in her lifetime if conditions are adequate (Adult Flea:
Description, Habits, Life Cycles). The mating process takes place rapidly, and produces viable
offspring quickly.

Conclusion:

Orchopeas Howardi, a vector for typhus disease is relatively similar is many aspects to other
fleas. Through the analysis of the feeding, mating and life cycle of the flea, a better
understanding of the vector and its effects in transmitting disease can be obtained. As the
vector itself is still prominent in many areas of the world, the disease it causes is declining
steadily each year. A better understanding of this vector is important for the understanding of
disease transmission amongst fleas as a whole, and has plentiful medical importance.

Supplemental Information:

Diagram 1. Life Cycle of Siphonaptera (flea)

Figure 1. Orchopeas Howardi Figure 2. Flea feeding on skin of host.

Map 1. Geographical range of Orchopeas Howardi, currently.

Bibliography

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"Classification & Distribution." ENT 425 | General Entomology | Resource Library |
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[Siphonaptera]. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

Fleas Distribution." Siphonaptera - Fleas -- Discover Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

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Image Sources:

Diagram 1
https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/fleas/

Map 1
http://pearl.berkeley.edu/ORCHOPEAS_HOWARDI