Dog flea
The dog flea, a type of parasitic insect belonging to the family Pulicidae, primarily infests dogs but can also be found on cats, humans, and other animals. It begins its life cycle as a tiny egg laid on the fur of its host, with females capable of producing up to 2,000 eggs in their lifetime. After hatching, the larvae feed on organic debris in the fur and undergo several molts before entering the pupal stage, which can last from days to months. Adult dog fleas, measuring up to nine millimeters, are equipped with spiny bodies and strong hind legs that enable them to jump between hosts.
As blood-feeding parasites, dog fleas use specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin of their host and consume blood, often causing itchy irritation at the bite site. These fleas can thrive year-round in warmer climates but are seasonal in colder regions, typically mating in the summer. With a life span ranging from eighteen days to two years, dog fleas are a common concern for pet owners and can contribute to various health issues for both pets and humans alike. Understanding the biology and behavior of dog fleas is essential for effective prevention and control measures.
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Dog flea
Like the cat flea, which is not only found on cats, the dog flea is found on dogs and other animals. This flea may be found on many different kinds of animals, especially cats and humans. The dog flea is one kind of fur flea. Fur fleas live on the skin or in the fur of other animals. Fleas which do not live on skin or in fur, are typically called nest fleas.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Siphonaptera
Family: Pulicidae
Genus: Ctenocephalides
Species: Canis
The dog flea begins its life as a tiny egg embedded in the skin or fur of a warm-blooded creature. This creature is often a dog, cat, or person. The female dog flea typically lays between two and eighteen eggs during each mating cycle and can lay up to 2,000 eggs in its lifetime. In the tropics these cycles may happen throughout the year, but in colder regions the dog flea only mates during the summer.
After a developmental period of approximately ten days, the young dog fleas hatch from their eggs as tiny dog flea larvae. Larval dog fleas molt, or shed, their outer layers twice after they hatch. During this larval stage, young dog fleas feed on the dead matter found on the skin or in the fur of their hosts. After the larval dog fleas undergo their second molt they spin cocoons around themselves and move into their pupal stage. Most pupal dog fleas emerge from their cocoons after about seven days, though some may remain in this stage for months.
When the young dog flea finally emerges from its cocoon, it is in its adult form. At this stage the dog flea may be up to nine millimeters (1/3 of an inch) long. Its tiny body is covered with many hairy, spiny, overlapping plates which cover its thorax and abdomen. The thorax is the middle section of the flea, and the abdomen is the lower section.
On the dog flea's tiny head are a pair of beady, black eyes, a pair of antennae, and a set of piercing mouthparts. Farther along its body are three pairs of legs. The dog flea's hind legs are typically much larger and stronger than its other limbs. The dog flea uses its hind legs to jump from one animal to another.
The dog flea may be found throughout the world living on the skin and in the fur of many animals. Although it is most commonly found on dogs, it may also be found on cats and humans.
Like other fleas, the dog flea is a parasite. This means it lives on or in another animal. As a parasite, the dog flea feeds on the blood of its host. To suck blood from its host the dog flea uses its piercing mouthparts. First it stabs its victim with one piece and then it pushes that piece deeper into its host's skin. The dog flea is able to repeat rapidly this stabbing process until it is full of its victim's blood. Generally, the dog flea's bite does not hurt while it feeds, but afterwards an itchy, red, skin irritation typically appears at the feeding site.
The dog flea has a life span of between eighteen days and two years.
Bibliography
Bales, Rebecca. “Flea.” A-Z Animals, 11 Jun. 2023, a-z-animals.com/animals/flea/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Meyers, Harriet. “How to Get Rid of Dog Fleas.” American Kennel Club, 14 Mar. 2024, www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Seraydar, Krista and Phillip Kaufman. “Dog Flea.” University of Florida, Apr. 2020, entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/occas/dogflea.htm. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.