Flea

Natural Habitat

Fleas are commonly found wherever their hosts (pets like dogs and cats, or other animals like rodents and wildlife) reside. This includes carpets, upholstered furniture, pet bedding, cracks in floors, and outdoors in shaded, moist areas where animals frequent.

Diet & Feeding

Adult fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Larvae feed on organic debris, especially the dried blood and feces of adult fleas found in pet bedding, carpets, and cracks in floors.

Behavior Patterns

Fast-moving, often found in groups. They are known for their ability to jump long distances relative to their size. Flea larvae are worm-like and live in environments rich in organic debris, feeding on adult flea feces and other detritus. Adults emerge from pupal cases when stimulated by vibrations, carbon dioxide, or heat, indicating a potential host is nearby. Their entire life cycle, from egg to adult, can take as little as two to three weeks.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Fleas can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and allergic reactions (flea allergy dermatitis) in pets and humans. They can also transmit diseases such as murine typhus (via Rickettsia typhi), cat scratch disease (via Bartonella henselae), and act as intermediate hosts for tapeworms (e.g., Dipylidium caninum). Benefits: In most ecosystems, fleas primarily serve as food sources for other insects and small animals, but their primary ecological role is as parasites. They are not known to provide direct benefits to humans or the environment.

Identified on: 8/18/2025