
Community identification
Jigger flea
Tunga penetrans
- Order & Family
- Order Siphonaptera, Family Hectopsyllidae
- Size
- Approximately 1 millimeter in length before embedding.
Natural Habitat
Sandy soil in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly common in rural and impoverished areas.
Diet & Feeding
Blood from warm-blooded hosts, primarily humans and domestic animals.
Behavior Patterns
Pregnant females burrow entirely into the skin of a host, leaving only a small breathing pore exposed while laying hundreds of eggs.
Risks & Benefits
Causes tungiasis, a painful inflammatory skin condition leading to severe secondary infections, ulcers, and potential tissue necrosis.