Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
phylogeny, Siphonaptera, molecular data, fleas, insect
College
Life Sciences
Department
Physiology and Developmental Biology
Abstract
The insect order Siphonaptera (fleas) has been historically significant for thousands of years. Beginning as early as 430 B.C. outbreaks of the bubonic plague have swept across continents and killed millions of people. Before fleas were linked with the plague, they were a little known order. Karl Linne recognized only two species of fleas in his “Systemae Naturae” in 1735. From 1735 to 1897 the described species count increased slowly from two up to sixty-eight. After 1897, and the recognition that fleas may be carriers of the plague, there was a rapid escalation in the research and interest in the order, and the number of species described reached the rate of 250 per decade (Holland, 1964). Currently there are approximately 2380 described species placed in 238 genera, but the further classification into families and suborders remains tentative (Dunnett and Mardon, 1991).
Recommended Citation
Swindle, Alison and Whiting, Dr. Michael F.
(2014)
"Phylogeny of the Order Siphonaptera Based on Molecular Data,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014:
Iss.
1, Article 895.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/895