Western Ground Squirrel Flea vs Peruvian Sandfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Ground Squirrel Flea | Peruvian Sandfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oropsylla montana | Phlebotomus perniciosus |
| Order | Siphonaptera | Diptera |
| Family | Ceratophyllidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Underground |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | Mediterranean basin, southern Europe, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Western Ground Squirrel Flea
A flea found on ground squirrels and prairie dogs in western North America. It is an important vector of sylvatic plague in wild rodent populations.
Did You Know?
It is the primary flea responsible for maintaining plague in wild rodent populations across the American West.
Peruvian Sandfly
A small sandfly found across the Mediterranean basin that is the primary vector of Leishmania infantum, which causes visceral leishmaniasis in dogs and humans in southern Europe. It is also a vector of Toscana virus, which causes meningitis. It breeds in stone walls and animal shelters.
Did You Know?
Canine leishmaniasis transmitted by this fly affects millions of dogs across southern Europe and is increasingly spreading northward with climate change.