Page 106 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

CAT FLEA CAT FLEA - FEEDING

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
Adult
(lives 6 to 12 months)

Eggs
Pupa (hatch in 2 to 10 days)
(can overwinter)
FLEA
LIFE CYCLE

Larvae
(first instar)
Larvae
(third instar)
Larvae
(second instar) Drawing by Andrew Schaible
1.Antenna- short, 3 segmented 6.Thorax- pronotal comb
2.Eyes- simple 7.Petiole- none FLEA
3.Head-piercing, sucking mouthparts 8.Abdomen- laterally flattened 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- brown to black 6
5.Wings- none 10.Other- genal comb (cat flea only) 2
Life Cycle
After a blood meal, a female will lay around ten eggs. The eggs hatch in 2-10 days.
From the beginning, the larvae are quite active and hungry. Larvae can feed on just 10
about any organic matter including dried blood. This stage will last anywhere from
three weeks to three months, going through three instars. After a larva becomes a
pupa, it is then capable of infecting a host. This stage varies greatly, under optimum 3
conditions it may be only about a week, but pupae can even overwinter for many
months. The life cycle can be completed in as little as a month, but usually is several
months long. The adults live up to a year feeding off their hosts.
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
FLEA Actual size 1/16 to 3/16”

These small, wingless, blood-sucking pests create a lot of anxiety for man. Most varieties are
around 1/16th inch in size (the Cat Flea can be considerably larger), and are brownish or black
in color. They will feed on any warm-blooded animal, including mankind. Fleas can actually sur-
vive up to 18 months without a blood meal. Pets such as cats or dogs are usually responsible
for the presence of fleas in a house.
The most common fleas found are the Cat Flea (by far the most prevalent flea--it also infects
dogs), Stick-tight Flea, Oriental Rat Flea, Mouse Flea, Ground Squirrel Flea, Northern Rat
Flea, Wild Mouse Flea, and Rabbit Flea; less common are the Dog Flea and Human Flea. The
Ground Squirrel Flea and Oriental Rat Flea are the two most responsible for transmitting dis-
eases. Fleas are notorious for transmitting the plague (known as “Black Death”). Occasional
plague outbreaks are tied to fleas from squirrels in public campgrounds, but rats have also
hosted the carrier fleas. These same fleas will also carry typhus, as will the Cat Flea. Dog and
Cat fleas can also transmit tapeworms, especially to children.

106