Dog Flea / Cat Flea

Typically found on domestic dogs, cats, or in the sleeping areas and carpets of homes with pets.

Adults are hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals. Larvae feed on organic debris and 'flea dirt' (adult fecal matter).

Fleas are wingless, saltatorial (jumping) insects that use powerful hind legs to leap onto hosts. They undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Risks include severe itching, allergic dermatitis, and transmission of parasites like tapeworms. They can also transmit bacterial diseases such as murine typhus and plague, although these are less common in urban domestic settings.