Fleas (Siphonaptera) associated with mammals in the mountain area between the Kuban and Bolshaya Laba Rivers

Abstract

The flea fauna of mammals in the area between the Kuban and Bolshaya Laba Rivers counts 47 species. Most of them parasitize several hosts. The species composition and the structure of flea communities in different altitudinal belts are characterized. The flea Ctenophthalmus wagneri and some other flea species with Ancient Mediterranean ranges show the highest dominance indices in the foothills. Ctenophthalmus proximus and Leptopsylla taschenbergi, possessing ranges of the Caucasian type, prevail in the middle mountain belt. Megabothris turbidus and some other boreal species dominate among the species collected in the high mountain belt