Understanding Sand Flea Lifecycle and Transmission

Understanding Sand Flea Lifecycle and Transmission
Tunga penetrans and Tunga trimamillata, belonging to the Tunga genus in the order Siphonaptera, are unique among fleas due to their unusual behavior of embedding non-fertilized females into the skin, where they remain until they die after about 4 to 6 weeks. The parasites’ last abdominal segments form a cone, maintaining contact with the environment for breathing, defecation, mating, and egg expulsion. This contact creates a small opening in the skin, measuring between 250 to 500 µm, which can serve as an entry point for pathogens.
The lifecycle of sand fleas outside their host mirrors that of other flea species. Once expelled, the eggs fall to the ground, progressing through larval and pupal stages before becoming adults. Larvae typically emerge within 1 to 6 days, with pupation occurring 5 to 7 days later. Adult fleas develop within 9 to 15 days, and under optimal conditions, they emerge approximately 20 days after the eggs are laid.
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