Flea Facts

Flea Facts

Appearance

• Adults small, wingless, about 2.5 mm long.
• Their bodies are shiny and reddish brown in color.
• Covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur.

Behavior, Diet & Habits

Adults are parasites that draw blood from a host. Larvae feed on organic debris, particularly the feces of adult fleas, which contain undigested blood. Fleas commonly prefer to feed on hairy animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice and other domesticated or wild animals. Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances.

Reproduction

Eggs are not attached to the host. Eggs will hatch on the ground, in rugs, carpet, bedding, upholstery or cracks in the floor. Most hatch within two days. Read more about the life cycle of fleas in a coming up blog!