Pest or Vermin:
Fleas
Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
Dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
Human flea (Pulex irritans)
Moorhen flea (Dasypsyllus gallinulae)
Northern rat flea (Nosopsyllus fasciatus)
Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis)
Appearance:
2-3mm long and brown eggs are 0.5mm long oval and pearly white
4-8 eggs are laid after blood meal, 1000 in lifetime. Eggs hatch after 10 days.
Flea larvae are 1.5mm long and threadlike.
Food:
various
Habitat:
Often around pets and their bedding, sometimes in disused premises which have
been vacated by pets.
Breeding:
Development is 8-150 days depending on temperature but usually 2-3 weeks.
They moult twice growing to 5mm long and have 13 segments. When full grown
the larva spins a cocoon, pupation can last months to years
Diseases:
No disease is carried by fleas in the U.K but they can cause serious anxiety and the
bites can sometimes become infected if scratched.
Damage:
Damge Control: This has to be a thorough approach, pets, bedding, carpets, vacuuming and use of
contact insecticide and IGR’s. Treatment of adult fleas on pets (this is the owner’s
responsibility)
Treatment has to be the control of larvae, pupae and eggs especially around carpet
edges, under chair cushions etc. The vacuuming of floors is also important
especially prior to treatment.