Classification
In the past, it was most commonly supposed that fleas had evolved from the flies (Diptera), based on similarities of the larvae. (Some authorities use the name Aphaniptera because it is older, but names above family rank need not follow the ICZN rules of priority, so most taxonomists use the more familiar name). Genetic and morphological evidence indicates that they are descendants of the Scorpionfly family Boreidae, which are also flightless; accordingly it is possible that they will eventually be reclassified as a suborder within the Mecoptera. Their evolution continued to produce adaptations for their specialized parasitic niche, such that they now have no wings and their eyes are covered over. The large number of flea species may be attributed to the wide variety of host species they feed on, which provides so many specific ecological niches to adapt to. In any case, all these groups seem to represent a clade of closely related insect lineages, for which the names Mecopteroidea and Antliophora have been proposed.
Flea systematics are not entirely fixed. While, compared to many other insect groups, fleas have been studied and classified fairly thoroughly, details still remain to be learned about the evolutionary relationships among the different flea lineages.
- Infraorder Pulicomorpha
- Superfamily Pulicoidea
- Family Hectopsyllidae—sticktight and chigoe fleas ("chiggers" of Latin America)
- Family Pulicidae—common fleas
- Superfamily Malacopsylloidea
- Family Malacopsyllidae
- Family Rhopalopsyllidae—hosts
- Family Vermipsyllidae—hosts: carnivores
- Superfamily Coptopsylloidea
- Family Coptopsyllidae
- Superfamily Ancistropsylloidea
- Family Ancistropsyllidae
- Superfamily Pulicoidea
- Infraorder Pygiopsyllomorpha
- Superfamily Pygiopsylloidea
- Family Lycopsyllidae
- Family Pygiopsyllidae
- Family Stivaliidae
- Superfamily Pygiopsylloidea
- Infraorder Hystrichopsyllomorpha
- Superfamily Hystrichopsylloidea
- Family Hystrichopsyllidae—hosts: rats and mice. Includes Ctenopsyllidae, Amphipsyllidae
- Family Chimaeropsyllidae
- Superfamily Macropsylloidea
- Family Macropsyllidae
- Superfamily Stephanocircidoidea
- Family Stephanocircidae
- Superfamily Hystrichopsylloidea
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