Cat Flea

Found globally; typically lives on host animals like cats, dogs, and wildlife, or in nesting/sleeping areas including carpets and furniture

Obligate hematophages; adults feed exclusively on the blood of mammals, while larvae feed on organic debris and 'flea dirt' (adult fecal matter)

Wingless but capable of jumping long distances; they undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Adults spend most of their lives on the host.

Risks include skin irritation and dermatitis in pets and humans. They can transmit tapeworms, murine typhus, and bartonellosis (cat scratch disease). They have no significant ecosystem benefits.