Dog Flea / Cat Flea (General Flea)

Found worldwide, primarily in the bedding, fur, and environments of domestic pets and wild mammals.

Hematophagous (blood-feeders); adults feed on the blood of hosts, while larvae consume organic debris and flea droppings (flea dirt).

Flightless but excellent jumpers; they use powerful back legs to leap onto hosts. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and can remain dormant in the pupal stage for several months.

Risks include skin irritation (allergic dermatitis), transmission of tapeworms, and potential vectoring of diseases like murine typhus. They provide no significant benefits to the ecosystem or humans.