Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common
pests and may attack many mammals, including man. They can be a
year round problem because they infest not only pets but also
the home of the owner. Because of this, treatment of the pet
alone may only temporarily solve a flea infestation.
Although many species of fleas feed primarily on one type of
animal, the common cat and dog flea will readily take blood from
a variety of animals, including man. Flea infestations of pets
and their homes will most likely involve the cat flea,
Ctenocephalides felis and occasionally the dog flea, C. canis.
Fleas are small (2 to 4 mm in length), brownish to black insects
which are characteristically flattened from side to side. Adults
are wingless and capable of jumping relatively long distances.
Adults feed exclusively on blood with their piercing-sucking
mouthparts. When not actively feeding, adult fleas often hide in
locations frequented by the host animal such as your dog
bedding, sofas, or carpeted areas.
The common cat and dog fleas breed throughout the year. After
feeding and mating, the female deposits her eggs, usually on the
host. Several eggs are laid daily and up to several hundred over
a lifetime. Eggs normally fall off the host into bedding
material or similar areas and hatch within two weeks.
Flea eggs accumulate in areas where the host spends most of its
time. In addition, adult fleas defecate small pellets of
digested blood which also drop off into the environment. A flea
comb will often gather this fecal matter at the base of the
tines providing a good sign of flea infestation. The combination
of white flea eggs and black dried blood specks may appear as a
sprinkling of salt and pepper where an infested animal has slept.
Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis, that is, they pass through
four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Immature
fleas do not resemble adults at all.
Flea larvae are tiny, light colored, and, worm-like, without
legs. They feed primarily on various debris and organic material
including the droppings of the adults which contains digested
blood. Flea larvae occur indoors and outdoors, wherever the eggs
have fallen off the host. In houses, flea larvae live in
carpeting, furniture, animal bedding and other protected areas
with high humidity. Flea larvae also live outdoors in areas
where animals spend time such as under porches in and around dog
houses, etc.
Because flea larvae depend on the adult’s fecal pellets of dried
blood as a food source, they cannot live in lawns or other
outdoor areas unless the pet visits those areas enough to
provide this food.
Depending on the species of flea and environmental conditions
the larvae will pupate in one week to several months. The pupa
is contained within a loose silken cocoon which is often covered
by bits of debris. Under average conditions, the life cycle of
the flea normally requires between 30 and 75 days but may take
much longer. Adult fleas inside the cocoon, called pre-emerged
fleas, will stay in that condition for weeks to months if no
external cues from a host is available.
However, when disturbed by the presence of a host such as
vibrations or carbon dioxide from exhaled breath, the fleas
emerge simultaneously and attack the host. This is why it is
possible to return to a house or apartment that has been empty
for months and find it full of fleas.
When the normal host is available, fleas may feed several times
a day but they are capable of surviving extended periods of
starvation. In household situations, the normal host is a cat or
dog. However, if the normal host is removed, starved fleas will
readily seek other sources of blood and more often than not, man
is the alternate host. In severe infestations, fleas will attack
humans even though the normal host is present.
Certain species of fleas have been known to transmit such
diseases as bubonic plague and murine typhus. These have never
been a major problem. The major problems with fleas is as a
nuisance pest of pets. The irritation and itching from flea
bites results in scratching and potential secondary infection.
Fleas may also transmit the double-pored dog tapeworm to dogs
and cats.
Finally, persistent attacks from fleas can cause severe allergic
responses in some people and pets. Once sensitized, a single
flea bite may produce symptoms including hair loss, usually
around the base of the tail, dermatitis, and intense itching. In
worse cases, puppies and young kittens can also died from
serious fleas infestations.
With proper flea management knowledge, flea problems will not be
a big issue and can be battle and win over easily.
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