How do moose fleas reproduce? - briefly
Moose fleas deposit eggs on the host’s coat; the larvae fall to the forest floor, feed on organic matter, pupate, and emerge as adults that locate new moose hosts.
How do moose fleas reproduce? - in detail
Moose‑infesting fleas (genus Lipoptena) exhibit a holometabolous life cycle adapted to the large cervid host. Adult females locate a suitable moose during the summer months, attach to the hair coat, and initiate copulation within minutes of attachment. Mating occurs on the host; the male transfers a spermatophore directly to the female’s reproductive tract.
After fertilization, the female retreats to a protected area of the host’s fur, where she deposits a clutch of 5–12 eggs. Eggs are laid singly and adhere to the hair shafts, remaining concealed from environmental hazards. Embryonic development completes within 2–3 days, after which larvae emerge.
Larvae are ectoparasitic scavengers. They feed on organic debris, dead skin, and host secretions, remaining on the host’s body surface. Development proceeds through three instars:
- First instar – active for 24–48 hours, consuming detritus.
- Second instar – lasts 3–5 days, increasing in size and metabolic activity.
- Third instar – persists for 5–7 days, culminating in pupation.
Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon attached to the host’s fur or to the surrounding environment if the flea detaches. The pupal stage endures 7–14 days, during which metamorphosis into the adult form occurs. Emergence is synchronized with the host’s activity patterns; newly formed adults immediately seek a fresh attachment site on the same moose or a conspecific.
Reproductive output peaks in late summer, aligning with the host’s calf‑rearing period, which provides abundant resources for developing larvae. Seasonal diapause is absent; the species relies on continuous host availability throughout the boreal summer. Male mortality is high after a single mating event, whereas females may produce multiple clutches over their lifespan of approximately 30 days.