Flea
Scientific Name: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea, most common flea found on domestic animals and often bites humans), Pulex irritans (human flea), or other species depending on host.
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Pulicidae (common fleas, though other families exist)
Size: Typically 1-4 mm (0.04-0.16 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Fleas are typically found wherever their hosts reside. This includes animal bedding, carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, cracks in floors, and outdoor areas where animals frequent. They prefer warm and humid environments.
Diet & Feeding
Adult fleas feed on the blood of mammals and birds.
Behavior Patterns
Fleas are wingless insects that prefer to jump rather than fly. They are excellent jumpers, capable of leaping long distances relative to their size. They are parasitic and feed on the blood of their hosts. Their life cycle includes eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Adult fleas spend most of their time on the host, while eggs, larvae, and pupae are typically found in the environment (bedding, carpets, cracks in floors). They are most active in warm, humid conditions.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Fleas can cause itchy bites, leading to skin irritation and allergic reactions (flea allergy dermatitis) in both humans and animals. They can transmit diseases such as murine typhus (via Rickettsia typhi) and plague (via Yersinia pestis) to humans, though these occurrences are rare in many developed countries. They are also intermediate hosts for tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) which can infect pets and, rarely, humans. Benefits: Fleas do not offer direct benefits to humans or the ecosystem.
Identified on: 7/1/2025