hectopsyllid

plural hectopsyllids

1. Any flea of the family Hectopsyllidae (syn, of Tungidae).

   Loss of bristles, or reduction in their size, is characteristic of other ectoparasites with a burrowing or semisedentary habit, as exemplified by the tungid and hectopsyllid fleas.

   1955, Robert Traub, Mary Lou Morrow, A revision of the chiggers of the subgenus Gahrliepia (Acarina: Trombiculidae), page 49

   1 more example

   There are sticktight fleas that parasitize bats, namely, some hectopsyllids and pulicids, but they are not pertinent to this discussion since they have evolved other means to solve the problems of infesting bats:[…].

   1985, Ke Chung Kim, Coevolution of Parasitic Arthropods and Mammals, page 395

   Synonyms: tungid