Mesozoic giant fleas from northeastern China (Siphonaptera): Taxonomy and implications for palaeodiversity

@article{Huang2013MesozoicGF,
  title={Mesozoic giant fleas from northeastern China (Siphonaptera): Taxonomy and implications for palaeodiversity},
  author={Diying Huang and Michael S. Engel and Chenyang Cai and Andr{\'e} Nel},
  journal={Chinese Science Bulletin},
  year={2013},
  volume={58},
  pages={1682-1690}
}
The recently discovered definite giant fleas from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou fauna and the Early Cretaceous Jehol fauna of northeastern China represent significant evidence for understanding ectoparasitism in the Mesozoic as well as the evolution of these giant blood feeders with their putative hosts (i.e. hairy or feathered vertebrates). On the basis of seven well-preserved specimens from Daohugou and Huangbanjigou we analyse the systematic classification of these primitive fleas… 
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Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and Evolved with Theria
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A molecular phylogenetic study based on a comprehensive taxon sampling of 259 flea taxa, suggesting that Theria (placental mammals and marsupials) represent the most likely ancestral host group of extant Siphonaptera, with marsupial occupying a more important role than previously assumed.
Fleas (Siphonaptera) are Cretaceous, and evolved with Theria.
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The co-evolution of parasites and their hosts is one of the most interesting scientific fields within animal evolution. However, the fossil record of parasites is extremely poor because of their…
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The combined mite, amber and hair evidence suggest a small, short- and fine-haired member of Amphilemuridae, sister family to hedgehogs, as a host for the mites and the source of at least some of the hairs preserved in Baltic amber.
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The first flea with fully distended abdomen from the Early Cretaceous of China
TLDR
The female specimen with extremely distended abdomen suggests that it might have consumed its last meal before its demise, and new findings further support that fleas had evolved a broad diversity by the Early Cretaceous.
Fleas are parasitic scorpionflies
TLDR
Fleas may no longer be regarded as a separate insect order and Siphonaptera should be treated as an infraorder within Mecoptera, reducing the number of extant holometabolan insect orders to ten.
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