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The most common domestic flea is the cat flea. The flea pass
through a four stages of life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa and
adult. A female can lay more than 400 eggs during their life
span of 1-4 weeks. The eggs are laid on the host where they
fall off to hatch in the environment. Females require a fresh
blood meal in order to produce eggs. Adult emergence is generally
though to be stimulated by vibrations of an approaching host,
carbon dioxide gradients, sound and light patterns. Adult
fleas are the only growth stage that actually live on the
pets. Adults are about 1-3 mm in length, reddish-brown to
black, and laterally compressed. Their powerful hindlegs are
well adapted for jumping and running through hair and feathers.
Fleas prefer to develop in areas protected
from rainfall, irrigation and sunlight, where the relative
humidity is at least 70- 75% and the temperature is 75-79ºF.
Flea is capable of transmitting plague and
murine typhus to humans, but reports are rare; its primary
importance is its nuisance to humans and pets. Bites usually
cause minor itching. Some people suffer from flea allergy
dermatitis, lasting up to 3-5 days and characterized by intense
itching, reddening at the bite site for sensitive skin. Fleas
also serve as intermediate hosts of dog tapeworms. Contact
us for professional management options.
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