Several sources (probably copying the Guiness Record account) trace the world's largest flea to a Mountain Beaver nest in Puyallup (1913). One quote:

Elsewhere in the world, the largest known flea is the Hystrichopsylla schefferi ? a flea found in the nest of a mountain beaver in Washington State, USA. It can grow up to 8mm long and has been known to bite a man's arm off at the shoulder blade (Ed's note: OK, there's a certain amount of poetic licence there ? but they do grow to 8mm).
And then there is this, for you collectors:

http://deadinsects.net/Giant-mountain-beaver-flea-Hystrichopsylla-schefferi-Siphonaptera02.htm


Jerry Broadus
Puyallup, WA
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