Flea
Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea, most common species found on both cats and dogs)
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Pulicidae (common fleas, although other families exist)
Size: 1.5 mm to 3.2 mm (0.06 to 0.13 inches)
Natural Habitat
Fleas are found worldwide, inhabiting the fur or feathers of warm-blooded animals and their immediate environment. In homes, they can live in carpets, bedding, upholstered furniture, and cracks in floors, especially where pets spend time.
Diet & Feeding
Adult fleas are obligate hematophagous parasites, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of their hosts. Larval fleas feed on organic debris, including adult flea feces that contain undigested blood.
Behavior Patterns
Fleas are excellent jumpers and can leap significant distances to find a host. They typically spend most of their adult lives on a host, feeding regularly. Their life cycle includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, with eggs and larvae often found in the host's environment (e.g., bedding, carpet). They are often noticed through their bites or by observing them on pets.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include causing itchy bites, allergic reactions (flea allergy dermatitis in animals), and transmitting diseases such as flea-borne typhus, plague (rare in modern times), and tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) to pets and sometimes humans. There are no known benefits of fleas to humans; they are generally considered pests.
Identified on: 9/2/2025