Figure 4

Diagnostic morphological features for differentiation of Ctenocephalides felis felis, Ctenocephalides felis orientis and Ctenocephalides canis . (a) C. felis felis is characterised by a long, acutely angled frons with no part on the vertical plane (white arrow). The dorsal incrassation is long and narrow (black arrow). The posterior margin of the hind tibia of this species has only one notch bearing a stout seta between the longer post-median and apical setae. (b) C. felis orientis is characterised by a short, rounded frons (white arrow) and a shorter dorsal incrassation compared to C. felis felis (black arrow). The posterior margin of the hind tibia is as seen in C. felis felis (black arrow). (c) C. canis is characterised by a short, sharply vertical frons (white arrow) and a short, club-shaped dorsal incrassation. The posterior margin of the hind tibia has two notches bearing stout setae between the post-median and apical setae (black arrows). (d) C. felis orientis can further be distinguished by the presence of a row of tiny setae just dorsal of the antennal fossa in the female (circled), numerous of which are seen in all males of the genus Ctenocephalides.