Chigoe flea
Scientific Name: Tunga penetrans
Order & Family: Siphonaptera, Tungidae
Size: Approximately 1 mm (unfed) to 10 mm (gravid female).
Natural Habitat
Dry, sandy soils and dust, predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions of America and Africa.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (blood-feeding); females burrow into the skin of hosts to feed on blood.
Behavior Patterns
The female burrows into the host's skin, usually on the feet, where it remains to lay hundreds of eggs over several weeks before dying.
Risks & Benefits
Causes tungiasis, resulting in inflammation, pain, and secondary infections; poses a significant health risk in endemic areas.
Identified on: 2/4/2026