Flea (specifically an engorged adult flea)
Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis (most likely)
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Pulicidae
Size: 1.5 mm to 3.3 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on various mammalian and avian hosts; common in household environments with pets.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feed on the blood of mammals or birds).
Behavior Patterns
Fleas are wingless parasites that move by jumping long distances. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult), and adults must feed on blood before they can reproduce.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can transmit pathogens (such as tapeworms, typhus, and bubonic plague) and cause flea allergy dermatitis or secondary infections from scratching. No ecological benefits to humans; considered a significant household and veterinary pest.
Identified on: 3/13/2026