Flea
Scientific Name: Common species include Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea), Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea), and Pulex irritans (human flea). The specific species cannot be determined from the image alone.
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Pulicidae (most common pest fleas)
Size: Typically 1.5 to 3.3 mm (0.06 to 0.13 inches) long.
Natural Habitat
Fleas are found globally wherever their hosts live. They typically infest homes (carpets, bedding, furniture), pet sleeping areas, and outdoor environments with animal activity. They thrive in warm, humid conditions.
Diet & Feeding
Adult fleas feed exclusively on the blood of their warm-blooded hosts (mammals and birds). Larval fleas feed on organic debris, including adult flea feces that contain undigested blood.
Behavior Patterns
Fleas are excellent jumpers, able to leap great distances relative to their size. They are parasitic and spend most of their adult lives on a host, feeding regularly. Their life cycle includes eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, with the pupal stage being very resistant to insecticides and often occurring in carpets, bedding, or cracks.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Fleas are known vectors for diseases such as bubonic plague (transmitted by the oriental rat flea to humans) and murine typhus. They can also transmit tapeworms (e.g., Dipylidium caninum) to pets and, rarely, to humans. Their bites cause itchy, red welts, leading to skin irritation, allergies, and secondary bacterial infections from scratching. Flea infestations can cause anemia in young or weakened animals. Benefits: There are no direct benefits of fleas to humans or ecosystems, as they are primarily parasites.
Identified on: 7/2/2025