Flea
Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) or other species like Pulex irritans (human flea), Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea), etc., depending on the specific host and region.
Order & Family: Siphonaptera (order), Pulicidae (family)
Size: Typically 1 to 3 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Fleas are commonly found in the environment where their hosts live, including carpets, bedding, furniture, pet resting areas, and outdoor grassy or shaded areas. They thrive in warm, humid conditions.
Diet & Feeding
Adult fleas feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds.
Behavior Patterns
Fleas are highly agile, known for their exceptional jumping abilities, often jumping up to 150 times their own height to find a host. They undergo complete metamorphosis with four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The adult stage is the parasitic stage, requiring a blood meal to reproduce. They can lay eggs rapidly once established on a host.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include transmitting diseases (e.g., murine typhus, plague in rare cases), causing allergic reactions (flea allergy dermatitis) in pets and humans through their bites, and leading to anemia in severe infestations, especially in young animals. There are no direct benefits to humans from fleas; they are generally considered pests.
Identified on: 8/27/2025