Characteristics:
Adults 1-8mm long; brownish in colour, body
laterally compressed (streamlined) and covered
with backward-directed bristles; reduction or
loss of eyes; piercing mouth parts; no wings,
although transitory wing buds may appear in
pupae of some species; muscular legs, with hind
limbs adapted for jumping; metamorphosis
complete with egg, larval, pupal and adult
stages.
Species characteristics and host/habitat:
Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
Adults, 2-3.25mm long; forepart of head longer
than it is high; prominent pronotal and genal
combs (first teeth of genal comb nearly as long
as second); basal section of legs equipped with
stout spines.
Host/habitat: especially members of Felidae
family, also dogs, other animals and man; found
particularly in host bedding. Many infestations
in commercial and institutional premises derive
from feral cats.
Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
Adults, 2-3.25mm long; forepart of head as long
as it is high; prominent pronotal and genal
combs (first teeth of genal comb only about half
as long as second); basal section of legs
equipped with stout spines.
Host/habitat: especially members of Canidae
family, also domestic animals and man; found
particularly in host bedding.
Human Flea (Pulex irritans)
Adults, 2-3.5mm long; no pronotal or genal
comb; basal section of legs equipped with stout
spines.
Host/habitat: especially man, but will also
breed on pigs, hedgehogs, foxes and badgers;
found in homes, usually in bedrooms.
Rabbit Flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi)
Adults, 1.5-2.25mm long; pronotal and genal
combs, the latter with five vertically arranged
rounded spines; basal section of legs equipped
with stout spines.
Host/habitat: especially rabbits, in whom it is
the main vector of the myxomatosis virus, but
will also attack cats; the females are sedentary
and attach themselves to the host, especially
around the ears and head.
Tropical Rat Flea (Xenopsylla cheopis)
Adults, 1.5-2.5mm long; no pronotal or genal
comb; row of bristles along back of head; basal
section of legs equipped with stout spines.
Host/habitat: various rodents, but will also
attack man; found especially around ports.
Hedgehog Flea (Archaeopsyllus erinacei)
Adults, 2-3.5mm long; genal comb of 1-3 short
spines; pronotal comb of 2-9 spines.
Host/habitat: generally associated with
hedgehogs, but occasionally brought indoors by
dogs, cats and humans; also found in gardens
and outbuildings.
Bird Flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae)
Adults 2-2.5mm long; no head folds to retain
antennae; pronotal comb with more than 24
teeth; no genal comb, no spines on basal
section of legs.
Host/habitat: especially birds nesting in dry
situations but will also attack animals and
man; breeding mostly limited to birds’ breeding
season, migrating from the nests when
fledglings leave. Often originating from birds’
nests in roof spaces.
Mole Flea (Hystrichopsylla talpae)
Adults 3.5-6mm long; genal comb of 9-12
spines; pronotal comb of 42-58 spines.
Host/habitat: associated with moles; also found
in gardens and outbuildings.
Distribution
Adult fleas live exclusively as parasites of warmblooded
animals, especially mammals, although
birds may also be attacked. Whilst they show a
certain degree of host preference, fleas are by
no means specific and will feed on other
animals in the absence of the normal host. In
fact they tend to be more nest than hostspecific,
for whilst the adults may feed on the
blood of a variety of animals the larvae require
more precise conditions which are associated
with the habitats and nesting habits of the hosts
rather than the characteristics of their blood.
Cat fleas are responsible for many flea
infestations, the remainder being attributable to
a variety of bird and animal species. Pulex
irritans infestations are now uncommon. The
significance of Ctenocephalides felis is explained
by the increased number of pets being kept and
the tendency for their beds to be neglected
during cleaning. Wall-to-wall carpeting also
provides a relatively undisturbed environment
for flea larvae to develop, whilst the spread of
central heating has served to ensure ideal
temperature conditions.
Fleas
