Distribution and biology of the ectoparasitic beaver beetle <I>Platypsyllus castoris</I> Ritsema in North America (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Platypsyllinae)

Abstract

The distribution and biology of the beaver beetle, Platypsyllus castoris Ritsema, are summarized for North America. In light of the fact that the beetle uses two beaver species as hosts which have seemingly been separated for some five million years on two continents, it is asked if the Nearctic and Palearctic beetle populations are really the same species.