Temperature and Humidity in the Microhabitat of Rodent Fleas in Hawaiian Cane Fields1

Abstract

Hawaiian sugar cane fields, in the enzootic plague region, offer a nearly stable temperature and humidity for fleas associated with the infection. In occupied rodent nests in boxes, host body heat raised the temperature above that of the surrounding soil which is determined by climate, not weather, and cane cover. Moderate temperature and high per cent relative humidity in nests were always suitable for breeding by the most abundant rodent flea in the fields, Xenopsylla vexabilis.