Abstract
A STUDY of the biology of the European rabbit-flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi) was commenced by this department when it became apparent that it was an important vector of myxomatosis in Great Britain. A technique for the laboratory culture of the flea was required, but was not rapidly forthcoming. It was repeatedly found that fleas released on domestic or wild rabbits kept in various types of hutches failed to produce eggs. However, Miriam Rothschild1 reported that the flea bred when rabbits were kept under semi-natural conditions in an outdoor enclosure, and with her encouragement a study was made of ovarian development in the flea (Mead-Briggs, A. R., unpublished work).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rothschild, M., Entomologist, 90, 304 (1957).
Buxton, P. A., Parasitol., 39, 119 (1948).
Wigglesworth, V. B., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 131, 313 (1943).
Brambell, F. W. R., Hemmings, W. A., Henderson, M., and Kekwick, R. A., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 141, 300 (1953).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MEAD-BRIGGS, A., RUDGE, A. Breeding of the Rabbit Flea, Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale) : Requirement of a ‘Factor’ from a Pregnant Rabbit for Ovarian Maturation. Nature 187, 1136 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/1871136a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1871136a0
This article is cited by
-
Network centrality and seasonality interact to predict lice load in a social primate
Scientific Reports (2016)
-
The population dynamics and host utilization of Geomydoecus oregonus, a parasite of Thomomys bottae
Oecologia (1974)
-
Effect of Host Pregnancy on Pupal Production by the Tsetse Fly
Nature (1966)
-
Beobachtungen an einer Laboratoriumszucht von Leptopsylla segnis Schönherr, 1811 (Insecta, Siphonaptera)
Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde (1965)
-
Breeding of the Rabbit Flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale)) controlled by the Reproductive Hormones of the Host
Nature (1964)
