Mole Flea vs Cumberland Plateau Cave Cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mole Flea Cumberland Plateau Cave Cricket
Scientific Name Hystrichopsylla talpae Hadenoecus cumberlandicus
Order Siphonaptera Orthoptera
Family Hystrichopsyllidae Rhaphidophoridae
Size 4-6 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Blood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe United States
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

Mole Flea

The largest European flea, found on moles and other burrowing mammals.

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Did You Know?

At six millimeters it is easily visible to the naked eye unlike most flea species.

Cumberland Plateau Cave Cricket

A cave cricket restricted to caves in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Kentucky. It has smaller eyes than surface-dwelling relatives.

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Did You Know?

It represents an independent colonization of caves from the related H. subterraneus.