The materials upon which the following descriptions are based were collected by J. E. Hill and P.E. Crowe during July of 1940 in Meade County, Kansas, which is then in each case the type locality. The unidentified specimens were found in the collection of Cornell University by Mr. E. W. Jamison, Jr., graduate student in mammology and entomology who was kind enough to send them to the writer for consideration. In each of the forms described below as new, the holotypes and allotypes will be deposited in the United States National Museum and the paratypes, if any, will be returned to Cornell University

Hubbard, C. Andresen

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Pacific University
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7-1943
Three New Fleas from Kansas
C. Andresen Hubbard
Pacific University
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Hubbard, C.A. (1943). Three New Fleas from Kansas. Pacific University Bulletin 39(10).
Three New Fleas from Kansas
Description
The materials upon which the following descriptions are based were collected by J. E. Hill and P.E. Crowe
during July of 1940 in Meade County, Kansas, which is then in each case the type locality. The unidentified
specimens were found in the collection of Cornell University by Mr. E. W. Jamison, Jr., graduate student in
mammology and entomology who was kind enough to send them to the writer for consideration. In each of
the forms described below as new, the holotypes and allotypes will be deposited in the United States National
Museum and the paratypes, if any, will be returned to Cornell University.
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Animal Sciences | Life Sciences
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Pa c i fie University Bulletin 
Volume XXXIX July 1943 No. 10' 
PUblished by Pacific University every six weeks during the college 
year. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at }<'orest 
Grove, Oregon, under Act of Congress, August 24, 1912. 
Three New Fleas From Kansas 
by 
Mr. C. Andresen Hubbard, D. Sc. 
Professor of Biology and Head. of the Dep'al"tment 
I 
The materials upon, "which the following descriptions. are based were col-
lected by J. E. Hill and/P.E. Crowe during July of 1940' in Meade County, Kan-
sas, which is then in.each case the type locality. The unidentified specimens 
were found in the collection of Cornell University by :Mr. E. W. Jamison, Jr., 
graduate student in mammology and entomology who was kind enough to send 
them to the writer foI' consideration. In e3!ch of the forms described 't>elow as 
new, the holotypes and allotypes will be deposited in the United states National 
Museum and the paratypes, if any, will be returned to C'ornell Uhiversity. 
In Novitates Zoologicae XL, September 1937, page 264 Dr. Karl Jordan 
based upon two male specimens Monopsyllus (Megabothris.) exilis and beauti-
fully illustrates the genitalia in Fig. 46. Dr. R. R. Parker of the Hocky Moun-
tain Spotted :Fever Laboratory at Hamilton, Montana had sent the specimens 
to Jordan from Powderville, Powder River County, Montana, where they had 
been taken off Grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogas1ter). In Novitates 
Zoologicae XLI, November 1938 page 120' Jordan adds to the former description 
and describes-the female. 
A New Grasshopper Mouse Flea 
Before the writer at this time are two male specimens of MonopsyUus 
exilis which do not agree with the original description. To hold this insect the 
writer here erects 
Monopsyllus exilis kansensis a new subspecies. 
Thispe'\V subspecies is closest to Monopsyllus exilis exilis Jordan 1937 from 
which it'~bitti' be distinguished by the difference in shape of the clasper, both 
finger iFI and process p, . While the finger in M.e. exilis is swollen posteriorly at 
theFLi/ex, In the new subspecies the apex is more evenly rounded. The anterior 
and/'pooterior fac&.i'C!f the finger in the new subspecies are more parallel. The 
afinature of the' finger is'I'similar to M. e.exilis, i.e. a bristle at apex, followed 
posteriorly by two small black spiniforms, the lower one smaller than the upper, 
then to. the ventral a bristle of about three times the weight of the apical 
bristle. The apex of process·;,P in M. e. exilis is dome shaped, in the new sub-
speCies rounded: The VIUand IX sternites are similar and probably not of 
taxonomic yafUe.· 
Length: .2.30' mm. and 2.50' mm; 
Type host: the two males before the writer at this time are off Onychomys. 
leucogaster itrticeps (Rhoads) the Great Plains Grasshopper Mouse. . 
Range: While known only from the type locality (Meade Co., Kansas) this in-
sect is probably found throughout the Great Plains on Grasshopper mice. This 
suoopecies bears the name of the state from which it is described. Females of 
the new subspecies have not yet come to the writer's attention. 
A New Ground Squirrel IFlea 
A single male Thrassis, of small size comes next under consideration. To 
hold this insect the writer here erects 
Thrasstis princei a new speCies. 
It is difficult to place the affinities of this new species. It is different from 
Th. petiolatus Baker, 'T1J.; pandome Jellison and Th. jellisoni Hubbard in that 
there is no spiculose area on sternite VIII. It differs from Th. acamaniis 
Rothschild, Th. howleUi Jordan, Th. gladioUs Jordan, Th. Rockwoodi Hubbard 
and Th. francisi. C. Fox in that there are no modified bristles on sternite IX. 
The modified segments, then, mark it off from other Thrassis. 
Modified segments: The shape(and armature of the finger F and processP 
of the clasper are characteristic. Tht( finger has a well rounded posterior face. 
There is no apical angle as in niosti;ither Thrassis but instead the apex is also 
well rounded, being evenly conti~u us with the posterior face. The anterior face 
is concave, being almost paTalle with the posterior face. The posterior face is 
armed with two bristles below hich are almost spine-like and above two ex-
ceptionally long slender bristles. There area few minute bristles on the finger. 
The process is dome shaped and armed with two bristles. Thel VIII sternite is 
armed with a long apical bristle and below it two small bristles. The IX stern-
ite has upon its lobe a stout bristle, a medium bristle and a small ·bristle. 
Length: small for a Thrassis the holotype measuring 1.4 mm. 
Type host: the single male upon which this description is based. was collected 
off Onycholmys leucogasterarticeps (Rhoads) the Great Plains Grasshopper 
mouse. The writer feels that this oocurence was accidental however, and that 
the true host of this new flea is doubtless the 13 lined ground squirrel of the 
Great Plains region. The writer has taken three ground squirrel fleas Th. pe'tio-
ia,tus,Th. pandorae and Th. rockwoodi off Grasshopper mice in Oregon and 
feels that the Grasshopper mice pick up the ground squirrel fleas while explor-
ing the squirrel burrows'; 
Range: while known only from the type locality (Meade Co., Kansas) this 
writer believes that this first of the Thrassis to be described from the Great 
Plains region will iil·time be found all through this region on the ground 
squirrels. 
This species bears the name of Mr. F. M. !Prince of the Plague Suppressive 
Measures Laboratory at San Francisco who has been of constant help to the 
writer. Females of this species have not yet come to the attention of the writer. 
A New Woodrat Flea 
In Oregon in a distance of 100 miles the collector can collect off wood-
rats three subspecies of . the flea orchopeas: sexdentatus. A similar situation 
is found in California. Through tbe Rocky Mointains, however, generally onl;\\ 
Ilne subspecies is found and east of the Rockies to the Atlantic only Orchopeas 
se~deIitatus pennsylvanicus Jordan. is· recorded. It seems likely that many 
other subspecies will show up in time. To hold the first of these new variations 
the writer here erects 
Orchopeas sexdentatus intermedius a new subspecies 
In the new subspecies the male is suggestive of O. s. pennsylvanicus to the! 
east, the female is suggestive of O. S'. agilis to the west. In both sexes the mod-
ified segments are 'characteristic .. The following characteristics come from one, 
male and one female, the only specimens before the writer at this time. 
Male: In the finger F the heel portion is more pronounced than in other sub-
species. The apex is more flattened than in a,j{ilis but more angular thAn penn'" 
sylvanicus. The usual stout posterio-dorsal bristle is present and below .it 6 
;black spiniforms, the lowest one at the heel small, as if rudimentary (loSt iIi 
mounting leaving only socket). Process apically dome shaped and with two 
bristles. IX sternite apically brifrucated, the lobe armed with stout slightly 
curved black spiniform and three bristles. 
Female: VII sternite divided into two lobes by a deep sinus. Upper lobe long, 
clearly defined and dagg'er blade shaped. Lower lobe subacuminate, armed 
with 5 major and 3 minor bristles. 
Length: both male and female measure 2:15 rom. 
R,ange: this subspecies is probably carried by the woodrats of the Great Plains. 
The subspecies name implies that the insect seems to fall midway between 
agilis on the west and pennsylvanicus on the east. 


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Three New Fleas from Kansas

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