
Community identification
Cat flea
Ctenocephalides felis
- Order & Family
- Order Siphonaptera, Family Pulicidae
- Size
- 1 to 3 millimeters in length
Natural Habitat
Found indoors on pets, in carpets, bedding, and outdoor shaded soil areas.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds.
Behavior Patterns
Wingless insects that rely on powerful hind legs to jump long distances onto hosts.
Risks & Benefits
Bites cause severe itching and allergic dermatitis in pets and humans; they also transmit tapeworms.