Western Ground Squirrel Flea vs Rabbit Flea
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Ground Squirrel Flea | Rabbit Flea |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oropsylla montana | Spilopsyllus cuniculi |
| Order | Siphonaptera | Siphonaptera |
| Family | Ceratophyllidae | Pulicidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 1.5-2 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | Europe |
| 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.
Rabbit Flea
A flea specific to European rabbits with a remarkable reproductive strategy tied to its host. It can transmit myxomatosis between rabbits.
Did You Know?
Rabbit flea reproduction is controlled by rabbit hormones — the flea can only breed when feeding on a pregnant doe near the time of birth.