Flea (likely cat flea)

Animal bedding, carpets, upholstery, and other sheltered areas frequented by cats, dogs, or wildlife.

Adults consume blood from mammals and occasionally birds. Larvae feed mainly on dried blood, skin debris, and organic material in the environment.

Wingless, laterally flattened adults move through fur and jump readily; females lay eggs on hosts, which fall into the environment. Eggs, larvae, and pupae develop off-host, often within weeks under warm, humid conditions.

Bites cause itching and allergic dermatitis and can transmit pathogens, including flea-borne typhus and tapeworms. Fleas have little ecological benefit in homes but serve as prey and parasites within natural food webs.