Head of a bird flea. False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of the bird flea, Ceratophylus galinae. The flea is a parasite on dry

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Head of a bird flea. False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of the bird flea, Ceratophylus galinae. The flea is a parasite on dry nesting birds, such as the Blue Tit. The head (at top) is helmet-shaped and the body is laterally flattened, adaptions which allow easy movement through the feathers of the host. The antennae can be withdrawn into grooves on the side of the head (shadowed area at upper left). The mandibles with long palps (centre right) are modified for the blood sucking habit of this insect. Most fleas remain on the host only while feeding. This flea also occupies the bird nest. Magnification: x106 at size.

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Size: 3638px × 4910px
Photo credit: © POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bird, blood, cerato., ceratophylus, flea, galin, galinae, head, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, sucker, wildlife, zoology