Fleas

Fleas

1. Key Species

   • Ctenocephalides felis
     • This is REALLY COMMON!  Found on dogs, humans etc.
     • Cat Flea
     • Life Cycle
       • More details on life cycle in book. 
       • Adult
         • Egg
           • Larvae
             • Cocoon
               • Sticky silken cocoon that debris sticks to 0.5cm long
               • Adult
             • This stage can last between 1 & several weeks.
               • Yellowish
                 • 2-5mm
                 • Maggot like
                 • Bristley
               • Chitinous mouthparts
               • Anal struts
                 • Used with the bristles for vigorous motility.
               • Negatively phototropic so hide in carpets / under furniture
                 • They feed on flea dirt Grow to 5mm - 2 moults In 1-7 weeks - temperature dependent. Susceptible to dessication. 
           • Starts laying after 1-2 days
             • Eggs drop to the ground within a few hours as they're not sticky
             • What does pelage mean?
               • Fur / feathers
       • Uses changes in light intensity, warmth & CO2 to locate hosts
         • Almost permanent!
         • Transfer: mostly adult unfed fleas from the environment
           • Som transfer due to close contact with another host animal
       • Life span = 7-10 days dependant on grooming habits
   • Ctenocephalides canis
     • Relatively uncommon
     • Dog Flea
   • Ceratophyllus gallinae
     • Common on poultry but can also be found on wild birds, pets & humans.
     • Poultry Flea
   • Pulex irritans
     • Uncommon / rare
     • Human Flea
   • Spilopsyllus
     • Wildlife flea but especially on rabbits. Also found on pets.
     • Rabbit flea

2. General features

   • Wingless insects
   • Laterally flattened
     • WHY? So that they can fit between hairs!
   • ADULTS: Blood sucking ectoparasites
   • Why are they a problem?
     • Normally a problem when there are large numbers of them!
     • Pruritis
     • Anaemia
     • Annoying!
     • Allergies to flea saliva
       • Just a few bites can trigger a reaction
     • Intermediate hosts for tapeworm
       • Dipylidium
   • Flea dirt = faeces

3. Identification

   • Notes in book are better!
   • Aided by rows of chitinous spines
     • COMBS / CTENIDIA
       • Chin combs
         • Genal
       • Back of head combs
         • Pronotal
   • General appearanace -->
     • 2-4 mm Small Dark brown Long hind legs Laterally compressed
   • Key differences between cat & dog fleas
     • C. canis
       • Streamlined head
       • 1st two genal spines are different sizes
     • C. felis
       • Streamlined head
       • 1st 2 genal spines = same size

4. Hormonal control of egg & larval development

   • Insect juvenile hormone
     • Controls embyonic development & maintains juvenile characters.
   • Moulting hormone (ecdysone)
     • Initiates moulting & pupation
   • Insect growth regulators (IGRs)
     • Chemicals that disrupt insect development

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