Flea

Found globally; typically lives on the bodies of warm-blooded hosts (mammals and birds) or in the host's bedding, carpets, and upholstery.

Hematophagous; adults feed exclusively on the blood of their hosts, while larvae feed on organic debris and adult flea feces (flea dirt).

Display holometabolous metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). They are wingless but possess powerful hind legs for jumping long distances. They are primarily nocturnal or active when a host is nearby.

Risks: Can transmit diseases like plague and typhus; cause allergic dermatitis and tapeworm infestations. Benefits: No significant benefits to humans; they serve as a minor food source for some environmental predators.