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Abstract <p>Although declines in the abundance and range of many insect species are increasingly being reported, detecting insect extinctions is incredibly challenging and rare. The plain thorny-headed flea (<i>Acanthopsylla saphes</i>) is an Australian ectoparasite of the eastern quoll (<i>Dasyurus viverrinus</i>) that was only collected a few times in the early 1900s before vanishing along with its host from mainland Australia. It has not been seen for over a century and is feared to be extinct. Surveys were undertaken across the former and presumed range of <i>A. saphes</i> (Victoria and Tasmania, Australia) of museum flea specimens and of legacy specimens of fleas collected during historical surveys of quolls (<i>Dasyurus</i> spp.) and Tasmanian devils (<i>Sarcophilus harrisii</i>) undertaken &gt; 10 years ago in Tasmania. No new specimens of <i>A. saphes</i> were located in any museums. <i>Acanthopsylla saphes</i> could not be detected from any <i>Dasyurus</i> spp. examined in the study, including the type host <i>D. viverrinus</i> which was sampled more than 200 times at multiple locations across Tasmania. However, a single female <i>A. saphes</i> was detected among samples collected from <i>S. harrisii</i> near Temma, Tasmania in 2003. Unfortunately, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) arrived in Temma around 2020 and is now causing catastrophic declines in the local <i>S. harrisii</i> population. Therefore, we suggest that <i>A. saphes</i> requires immediate conservation action to avert its extinction.</p> Implications for insect conservation <p>This study presents evidence for the survival of a critically co-endangered parasite at imminent risk of extinction and highlights the dual impacts that invasive species and wildlife diseases can have in destabilising delicate symbiotic relationships between co-endangered parasites and their hosts.</p>

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Rediscovery of the purportedly extinct plain thorny-headed flea (Acanthopsylla saphes) (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllidae): a parasite in critical need of conservation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月3日

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  • Mackenzie L. Kwak,
  • Bronwyn A. Fancourt,
  • Michael W. Hastriter,
  • Ryo Nakao

摘要

Abstract

Although declines in the abundance and range of many insect species are increasingly being reported, detecting insect extinctions is incredibly challenging and rare. The plain thorny-headed flea (Acanthopsylla saphes) is an Australian ectoparasite of the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) that was only collected a few times in the early 1900s before vanishing along with its host from mainland Australia. It has not been seen for over a century and is feared to be extinct. Surveys were undertaken across the former and presumed range of A. saphes (Victoria and Tasmania, Australia) of museum flea specimens and of legacy specimens of fleas collected during historical surveys of quolls (Dasyurus spp.) and Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) undertaken > 10 years ago in Tasmania. No new specimens of A. saphes were located in any museums. Acanthopsylla saphes could not be detected from any Dasyurus spp. examined in the study, including the type host D. viverrinus which was sampled more than 200 times at multiple locations across Tasmania. However, a single female A. saphes was detected among samples collected from S. harrisii near Temma, Tasmania in 2003. Unfortunately, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) arrived in Temma around 2020 and is now causing catastrophic declines in the local S. harrisii population. Therefore, we suggest that A. saphes requires immediate conservation action to avert its extinction.

Implications for insect conservation

This study presents evidence for the survival of a critically co-endangered parasite at imminent risk of extinction and highlights the dual impacts that invasive species and wildlife diseases can have in destabilising delicate symbiotic relationships between co-endangered parasites and their hosts.