Bug Identifier
Cat flea
Community identification

Cat flea

Ctenocephalides felis

Order & Family
Order Siphonaptera, Family Pulicidae
Size
1 to 3 millimeters in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found indoors on pets, in carpets, bedding, and dark humid crevices.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds.

Behavior Patterns

Flightless parasites utilizing powerful hind legs for jumping onto hosts to feed.

Risks & Benefits

Bites cause severe itching and allergic dermatitis; vectors for tapeworms and pathogens.