Myxomatosis: the emergence of male and female European rabbit fleas<i>Spilopsyllus cuniculi</i>(Dale) from laboratory cultures

1. The sex ratio in 379 collections, each consisting of more than 100 individuals, of 250 different species of ectoparasite belonging to seven orders of insects is recorded. The data are gathered from a broad survey of published literature. 2. In general, ectoparasitic insects emerge as adults in equal numbers of each sex, although there are certain exceptions.3. The sex ratio in natural populations may alter with numerous factors, but in general it is imbalanced, females usually predominating. Out of 359 collections from the host's body or home, the sex ratio of 30% showed no significant departure from unity, 63% contained sigdicantly more females, and 7% significantly more males.4.These imbalances could be due to sampling methods but this is rare. Generally they are due to one sex, usually the male, being shorter lived than the other. This may be because maIes are often more active and smaller than females, and thus more likely to be separated from the host's body or home, succumb to host predation, or be killed by adverse climatic or nutritional conditions.

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Myxomatosis: the emergence of male and female European rabbit fleasSpilopsyllus cuniculi(Dale) from laboratory cultures

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Fleas and flea-borne diseases of North Africa

Fleas and flea-borne diseases of North Africa

The sex ratio in ectoparasitic insects

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