Pulicidae
Guides
Cediopsylla
Cediopsylla is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, subfamily Spilopsyllinae. The genus includes species that are 'hormone bound' parasites, with reproductive cycles synchronized to host breeding biology. Cediopsylla simplex, the only well-documented species, parasitizes rabbits and exhibits maturation and breeding patterns controlled by host reproductive hormones. Female fleas mature on pregnant hosts and nestlings, but not on non-pregnant hosts.
Cediopsylla simplex
Cediopsylla simplex is a flea species in the family Pulicidae. Its reproductive biology is tightly coupled to host hormonal cycles, with female maturation occurring specifically on pregnant rabbits and nestlings rather than on estrous does. The species has been described as "hormone bound," indicating that its breeding cycle is controlled by and synchronized with the breeding cycle of its host. This physiological dependency represents a specialized adaptation among fleas.
Ctenocephalides
cat fleas, dog fleas
Ctenocephalides is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, tribe Archaeopsyllini, containing approximately 13 species and subspecies worldwide. The genus includes two cosmopolitan species of major veterinary and medical importance: C. felis (cat flea) and C. canis (dog flea). These fleas are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites infesting domestic dogs and cats, with C. felis recognized as the most prevalent and economically significant external parasite of companion animals globally. Members of this genus also parasitize diverse wild hosts including foxes, civets, jackals, hares, hyraxes, ground squirrels, and hedgehogs.
Ctenocephalides canis
dog flea
Ctenocephalides canis is a cosmopolitan flea species in the family Pulicidae that primarily infests domestic dogs and cats as an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite. It is less adaptable and less widely distributed than the closely related cat flea (C. felis), infesting fewer host species and achieving lower prevalence in most regions. The species has been documented across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Central Asia, with notable populations in Ireland, Austria, Greece, Poland, New Zealand, Brazil, and Uzbekistan. It serves as a vector for parasitic worms and can cause allergic dermatitis in pets.
Ctenocephalides felis
cat flea
The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is a cosmopolitan ectoparasite primarily associated with domestic cats but also commonly infests dogs and numerous other mammals. It is the most prevalent flea species on companion animals worldwide, surpassing the dog flea (C. canis) in distribution and host range. Adults are obligate blood-feeders that require fresh blood meals for reproduction. The species serves as a vector for multiple pathogens including Rickettsia felis, and acts as an intermediate host for cestodes such as Dipylidium caninum. Despite decades of intensive insecticide use, a 17-year international study found no evidence of resistance to imidacloprid among cat flea populations.
Echidnophaga
Stick-tight Fleas
Echidnophaga is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, commonly known as stick-tight fleas. Species in this genus are found across Africa, Asia, southern Europe, and Australia. Adults attach firmly to host skin and remain in a single location for extended periods, feeding on blood and causing localized tissue damage. The genus includes notable pests of poultry, rabbits, and other birds and mammals.
Pulex
human flea (for P. irritans)
Pulex is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, established by Linnaeus in 1758. The genus comprises six to seven recognized species, with Pulex irritans (the human flea) being the most notable and widespread. The remaining species are restricted to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms. Members of this genus are laterally compressed, wingless ectoparasites adapted for blood-feeding on mammals.