Fleas
Key
Features of Fleas
Small (2mm) wingless insects, flattened side
to side, red-brown with backwardly directed spines and
legs designed for jumping.
Biology
All adult fleas are parasitic on warm-blooded animals.
Larval stages live in the nest of the host and feed
on skin, feathers and, most importantly, the blood-rich
faeces of the adult flea. When fully grown the larvae
spin well camouflaged silken cocoons. When fully developed
the adult waits within this until it detects the vibrations
caused by a potential host. Only then does it emerge.
The complete lifecycle takes about a month in the summer.
Distribution
The Cat Flea is by far the commonest species of flea
and readily bites humans. The Human Flea and the Bird
Flea are next in importance. Dog fleas are rare, although
other species may become temporarily attached to dogs.
Significance
Adult fleas feed on blood. Their bites can cause intense
irritation around the central bright red spot. Different
people react differently to a bite, both in terms of
degree of reaction and time taken to react.
Because vibrations trigger the pupa to emerge, when
people enter empty premises where infested cats previously
lived, the human hosts can suffer significant attack.
Control
The first step in controlling a flea infestation is
to identify the primary hosts, such as cats or dogs,
and give them the recommended veterinary treatments.
In order for these to be successful, a residual insecticide
should then be applied to all areas where the host is
likely to be found. This will prevent the pupa from
emerging to create a new generation of fleas. Steam
cleaning of carpets and furniture will kill any fleas
left.
Regular combing and bathing of pets can help to avoid
future flea problems.
