Cat Flea
Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera; Family: Pulicidae
Size: 1 to 2 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Domestic environments, living on host animals (cats, dogs, mammals) and in carpets or bedding.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagy; adults feed on the blood of mammals, while larvae feed on organic debris and adult flea feces.
Behavior Patterns
Wingless insects that jump long distances using specialized hind legs; they undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Significant pests that cause dermatitis and itching; they can transmit tapeworms and bacterial pathogens like Rickettsia felis to humans and humans.
Identified on: 5/4/2026