Fleas

Available Languages:

English

Publications

Sticktight Flea, Echidnophaga gallinacea

P. G. Koehler, R. M. Pereira, and P. E. Kaufman

This document provides an overview of the sticktight flea, Echidnophaga gallinacea, which affects dogs, cats, poultry, and other animals. It describes the flea's biology, behavior, and appearance, noting its small size and lack of combs. The article highlights the health effects of flea infestations, including secondary infections and anemia in young animals. Control measures include manual removal, application of flea products, and environmental treatments to prevent reinfestation. The document emphasizes the importance of proper treatment to avoid further complications and ensure the well-being of affected animals. Publication date: October 1991.

Dog Flea Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis) (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Krista R. Seraydar and Phillip E. Kaufman

This document provides an overview of the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis, including its biology, distribution, and medical significance. It details the flea’s life cycle, from egg to adult, and highlights its role as an ectoparasite on various mammalian hosts. The article also discusses the flea’s ability to transmit parasitic worms and cause allergic reactions in pets. Management and prevention strategies for controlling flea infestations are outlined, emphasizing the importance of hygiene and the use of chemical treatments.

Cat Flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché)

D. C. Zentko and D. L. Richman

This document provides an in-depth profile of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, detailing its life cycle, distribution, and medical significance. The cat flea is the most common domestic flea in the United States, requiring a fresh blood meal to reproduce. The life cycle includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, typically lasting 30 to 75 days. Cat fleas can transmit diseases and cause allergic reactions in pets and humans. Effective management involves cultural, chemical, and biological control methods to eliminate fleas from pets, homes, and yards.

Oriental Rat Flea Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild, 1903)(Insecta: Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Chad L. Cross, Jason L. Williams, and Andrea Lucky

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

Fleas

P. G. Koehler, R. M. Pereira, and J. W. Diclaro II

This document provides an overview of fleas, including their biology, life cycle, and the health issues they cause. Fleas are small, blood-sucking insects that can infest pets and homes, causing itching and irritation. The document details the flea’s life stages, from eggs to adults, and emphasizes the importance of treating both pets and their environments to control infestations. It also discusses various treatment methods, including on-animal treatments and premise treatments, to effectively manage and prevent flea problems. Date first printed July 1993.

Human Flea Pulex irritans Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Chad L. Cross, Estelle Martin, and Lucas Brendel