EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON CAT FLEA (SIPHONAPTERA, PULICIDAE) DEVELOPMENT AND OVERWINTERING

Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche), were reared at different te mperatures to examine further the effects on egg-to-adult development and emergence of adults from cocoons. Three different temperatures (26 .7, 21.1, and 15.5 degrees C) were used to rear fleas. Emergence of ad ults from cocoons was monitored using 2 experimental designs-cocoons m aintained in groups and cocoons individually isolated. At cooler tempe ratures, cocoons kept in groups had a higher incidence of late-emergin g adults than did individual cocoons. At 15.5 degrees C, adults contin ued to emerge from grouped cocoons up to 80 d after all had emerged fr om individual cocoons. Developmental time of prepupae and pupae was de termined by inhibiting cocoon formation of late 3rd instars. Male prep upae and pupae developed approximate to 20% slower than did females. C omparisons between emergence of adults from cocoons and from naked pup ae indicate that a large percentage of adults emerge from cocoons soon after molting. The possible association of developmental temperatures and emergence from cocoons with overwintering populations is discusse d.