Fleas
(Ctenocephalides felis / C. canis)
Tiny, jumping parasites that feed on pet and human blood and can quickly infest an entire home.
Overview
Fleas are small, wingless, blood-feeding parasites that are a major concern for pet-owning households in Bowling Green. The cat flea (which also feeds on dogs and humans) is the most common species found in homes. Fleas reproduce rapidly — a single female can lay 40 to 50 eggs per day — and infestations can become severe within weeks. Flea bites cause intense itching in both pets and humans, and fleas can transmit tapeworms, murine typhus, and cause flea allergy dermatitis in sensitive pets.
Appearance
Fleas are very small, 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, dark reddish-brown, and wingless. Their bodies are laterally flattened (compressed side to side), which allows them to move easily through fur and hair. They have powerful, long hind legs adapted for jumping — a flea can leap up to 150 times its own body length. They are visible to the naked eye but difficult to catch due to their speed and jumping ability.
Habitat
Adult fleas live on their hosts (dogs, cats, wildlife). Flea eggs, larvae, and pupae develop in the environment — in carpets, pet bedding, upholstered furniture, and floor cracks. Flea larvae avoid light and feed on organic debris and adult flea feces (dried blood) in carpet fibers and crevices. Outdoors, fleas develop in shaded, moist areas where pets rest.
Diet
Adult fleas are obligate blood feeders — they must consume blood to survive and reproduce. They feed on dogs, cats, and other mammals, and will bite humans when host animals are unavailable. Flea larvae feed on organic matter in carpet fibers, including adult flea feces (which is essentially dried blood).
Lifecycle
The flea lifecycle includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females lay 40 to 50 eggs per day on the host animal, but eggs fall off into the environment. Larvae develop in carpet fibers, under furniture, and in pet bedding. Pupae can remain dormant in their cocoons for months, waiting for vibrations, heat, or carbon dioxide that indicate a host is nearby. The entire cycle can be completed in as little as 2 weeks under ideal conditions.
Signs of Infestation
- !Pets scratching excessively, biting at their fur, or showing hair loss (especially around the tail and hind legs)
- !Small, dark, jumping insects seen on pets, bedding, or carpets
- !Flea dirt (tiny black specks that turn reddish-brown when wet) in pet fur or on bedding
- !Itchy, red bite marks on human ankles and lower legs
- !Pale gums in pets with severe infestations (anemia from blood loss)
Prevention Tips
- ✓Keep all pets on veterinarian-recommended flea prevention year-round
- ✓Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture frequently — especially in areas where pets rest
- ✓Wash pet bedding in hot water weekly
- ✓Treat yards where pets spend time, especially shaded, damp areas
- ✓Discourage wildlife (opossums, raccoons, feral cats) from the yard, as they bring fleas
Professional Treatment
Professional flea treatment requires a coordinated approach targeting all life stages simultaneously. Indoor treatment includes application of an adulticide and insect growth regulator (IGR) to carpets, upholstered furniture, and pet resting areas. The IGR prevents eggs and larvae from developing into biting adults. Outdoor treatment targets shaded areas where pets rest. All pets must be treated with veterinary flea products at the same time. Thorough vacuuming before and after treatment is essential, as vibration triggers dormant pupae to emerge and contact the treatment. Follow-up treatment at 2 to 3 weeks is typically needed.
Did You Know?
- •A flea can jump up to 150 times its own body length — equivalent to a human jumping over a 75-story building.
- •Flea pupae can remain dormant in their cocoon for up to a year, which is why empty homes can have explosive flea outbreaks when new occupants move in.
- •A single female flea can lay over 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.
- •Fleas consume up to 15 times their own body weight in blood per day.
1/16 to 1/8 inch
Dark reddish-brown
6 (powerful hind legs for jumping)
Flat (side to side), wingless
Cat flea, Dog flea
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