Flea Larva
Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis (most likely) or Ctenocephalides canis
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Pulicidae
Size: Typically 2 to 5 mm (around 1/8 to 1/4 inch) long.
Natural Habitat
Found in dark, protected areas where pets sleep or frequent, such as deep in carpet fibers, under furniture, in cracks in hardwood floors, or in pet bedding. They avoid light.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on organic debris, particularly 'flea dirt' (dried blood excreted by adult fleas), dead skin cells, and other organic matter found in dust.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae are negatively phototactic (they avoid light) and wiggle actively. They spin a cocoon to pupate before emerging as adult fleas. They cannot bite; only adults bite.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: They signal an active flea infestation. While larvae don't bite humans or pets, they mature into blood-sucking adults that cause itching, allergic reactions, and can transmit tapeworms or diseases like typhus and cat scratch disease.
Identified on: 2/25/2026