Flea

Scientific Name: Siphonaptera (Order)

Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera; Family: Pulicidae (commonly)

Size: 1.5 to 3.3 mm (1/16 to 1/8 inch)

Flea

Natural Habitat

Found in homes, carpets, bedding, and on domestic or wild mammals and birds.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous; adults feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Larvae feed on organic debris and adult flea feces (flea dirt).

Behavior Patterns

Flightless but excellent jumpers; they use powerful hind legs to leap onto hosts. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Adults spend most of their time on a host to feed and mate.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, and transmission of diseases like typhus or bubonic plague, as well as tapeworms. There are no known ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 3/11/2026