Xenopsylla astia, the indigenous commensal rat flea has been replaced by X. cheopis in many parts of India to a large extent. As a result of this replacement or suppression serious outbreaks of plague had occurred in the country in the earlier part of the century. The introduction of DDT for malaria control programme, as a collaborai benefit, has also served to control plague in the country. This has also encouraged DDT resistance in fleas. In the present paper the distribution of X. astia in the state of Maharashtra is discussed along with its susceptibility status to DDT. The distribution of this flea now appears to be patchy, being restricted to very few areas. The flea demonstrates high degree of resistance to DDT. Xenopsylla astia, la puce des rats commensaux indiens a ete remplacee par X. cheopis en beaucoup d’endroits. Cela s’est traduit par de nombreuses eruptions de peste dans le pays au debut du siecle. L’introduction du DDT a permis le controle de la peste, mais a egalement induit tant la resistance des puces aux insecticides qu’un changement dans la repartition des puces des rongeurs commensaux. Cette publication discute la distribution de X. astia dans l’etat du Maharashtra ainsi que sa susceptibilite aux insecticides. La repartition de cette puce apparait maintenant inegale, etant limitee a quelques rares endroits. La puce montre un haut degre de resistance au DDT.