Tunga penetrans (Chigoe flea or Jigger)
Scientific Name: Tunga penetrans
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Tungidae
Size: Approximately 1mm before feeding; gravid females can swell to the size of a pea (approx. 5-10mm) once embedded.
Natural Habitat
Found in dry, sandy soils, dust, and humid environments primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.
Diet & Feeding
Both sexes feed on blood from mammals such as humans, pigs, dogs, and cats.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike other fleas, the female burrows 'head-first' into the host's skin (often the feet or under toenails) to feed and produce eggs. It stays embedded for 2 to 3 weeks before dying and being sloughed off by the host's skin.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include tungiasis, characterized by intense inflammation, pain, itching, and secondary infections like tetanus or gangrene if left untreated. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 6/6/2026