Moorhen flea

{{Short description|Species of flea}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = NHMUK010177289 The moorhen flea - Dasypsyllus Dasypsyllus gallinulae gallinulae (Dale, 1878).jpg

| image_caption = Male moorhen flea

| genus = Dasypsyllus

| species = gallinulae

| authority = (Dale, 1878)

}}

The moorhen flea (Dasypsyllus gallinulae){{EOL|705682|Dasypsyllus gallinulae}} is a flea originating from South America. It is now globally widespread. It is a large flea, easily identified because the male has two heavy horn-like spines on one of the genital flaps, and the female has a deep "bite" on the seventh sternite.

It is found in bird nests, and is more likely to be found on the bird's body than, say, the chicken flea, which is normally found in the nest. The moorhen flea's many hosts include the common moorhen, Eurasian woodcock, grouse, European robin, goldcrest, willow tit, Eurasian treecreeper{{cite book |title=Fleas, Flukes and Cuckoos. A study of bird parasites |author1=Rothschild, Miriam |author-link=Miriam Rothschild |author2=Clay, Theresa |year=1957 |publisher=Macmillan |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/fleasflukescucko00roth/page/113 113] |url=https://archive.org/details/fleasflukescucko00roth }} and blackbirds. {{cite journal |title=Seasonal Variation In The Infestation Of Blackbirds By Fleas |journal=Bird Study |last1=Fowler |first1=J. A. |last2=Cohen |first2=Sharon |last3=Greenwood |first3=M. T |year=1983 |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=240–242 |doi=10.1080/00063658309476804 |bibcode=1983BirdS..30..240F |issn=1944-6705 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00063658309476804 |accessdate=2021-02-21 }}