Tunga penetrans – Adult female sand flea

France, Pihet Marc

Tunga penetrans (Arthropoda, Insecta, Siphonaptera) is an ectoparasite classified as a flea sensu lato. The adult female is embedded into the dermis, and shows only the posterior part of the distended abdomen. This corresponds with the whitish bag seen on the largest part of the picture. Right, the brown structure corresponds with sand flea’s head and thorax (binocular magnifying glass, X 10).