Bug Identifier
Jigger flea
Community identification

Jigger flea

Tunga penetrans

Order & Family
Order Siphonaptera, Family Hectopsyllidae
Size
Approximately 1 millimeter in length before embedding.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Sandy soil in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly common in rural and impoverished areas.

Diet & Feeding

Blood from warm-blooded hosts, primarily humans and domestic animals.

Behavior Patterns

Pregnant females burrow entirely into the skin of a host, leaving only a small breathing pore exposed while laying hundreds of eggs.

Risks & Benefits

Causes tungiasis, a painful inflammatory skin condition leading to severe secondary infections, ulcers, and potential tissue necrosis.