Cat and Dog Fleas
Ctenocephalides
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Siphonaptera
- Family: Pulicidae
- Genus: Ctenocephalides
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ctenocephalides: /ˌktɛnoʊˌsɛfəˈlaɪdiːz/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Ctenocephalides is a genus of fleas, including the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis), both of which are important ectoparasites of domestic animals, capable of transmitting diseases and causing discomfort to their hosts.
Physical Characteristics
1.5-2.5 mm long, reddish-brown color; adult females may appear banded due to swollen abdomens filled with eggs; compressed laterally, wingless.
Identification Tips
Look for conspicuous genal and pronotal combs, and one row of bristles on each abdominal segment.
Habitat
Domestic environments with pets (cats and dogs), can also be found in places where carnivores and omnivores reside.
Distribution
Originally from Africa, globally distributed due to domesticating cats; prevalent in North America, especially among pets.
Diet
Adults require blood for reproduction; larvae feed primarily on organic debris, particularly dried blood feces from adult fleas.
Life Cycle
Holometabolous with stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Fleas can live up to two years under optimal conditions.
Reproduction
Gravid females lay 20-30 eggs daily; non-adhesive eggs fall into the environment and hatch in 2-7 weeks.
Predators
Natural predators include various insectivorous animals and species adapted to consume fleas.
Ecosystem Role
Parasite affecting domestic cats and dogs; serves as a host for various pathogens and parasites.
Health Concerns
Can cause flea allergy dermatitis, anemia in severe infestations, and transmit diseases like Bartonella, murine typhus, and tapeworms.
Collecting Methods
- Flea traps using light and heat to attract fleas
- Vacuuming infested areas to collect fleas and eggs
- Combing pets with flea combs to collect adult fleas
Preservation Methods
- Preserve in ethanol for further study
- Kill and mount for taxonomic identification
Evolution
Evolutionary changes have enabled cat fleas to adapt to a domestic environment as hosts have changed from wild to domestic animals.
Misconceptions
Despite being referred to as cat and dog fleas, Ctenocephalides felis is the most widespread flea on dogs as well as cats, not limited to just felines.
Tags
- fleas
- Ctenocephalides
- cat flea
- dog flea
- ectoparasite
- insecta
- hematophagous