What Are Fleas?

Key Takeaways

• Fleas are small, flightless, flat-bodied insects that feed on the blood of birds and mammals.
• The cat flea is the most common flea in Australia, and it also lives on dogs.
• Adults are 2 to 4 mm long and can jump more than 200 times their body length.
• Pupae can wait in carpets and emerge when they feel vibration, so a home can seem flea free and then flare up.
• Treating the pet, the home and the yard together gets the best result.

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are small, flightless, flat-bodied insects with well-developed hind legs for jumping. They are external parasites of birds and mammals and live off the blood of their hosts. An adult flea is 2 to 4 mm long and generally brown, with tiny claws to help it cling to animals.

There are about 70 different species of fleas found in Australia, and adults can jump more than 200 times their body length. These are some popular species.

Species	Common name
Ctenocephalides felis	Cat flea
Ctenocephalides canis	Dog flea
Echidnophaga gallinacea	Sticktight flea
Pulex irritans	Human flea

Most common fleas live on the blood of cats and dogs. If you see any sign of fleas, call Control Pest Management.

Cat Fleas

Cat fleas are the most common flea in Australia, and the foremost host is the pet cat. The cat flea belongs to the insect order Siphonaptera, and in its adult stage it feeds on blood. Adults are commonly reddish-brown or chestnut in colour.

Like other fleas, cat fleas bury their heads under the dense hair of the host, just above the top layer of the skin. This makes them hard to see, even on a pure white host. Cat fleas can also live on other animals if the preferred host is unavailable.

Dog Fleas

The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is a separate species that lives as an external parasite on dogs and cats. In practice, most fleas found on dogs in Australia are cat fleas, which live on a vast range of animals.

Fleas live on the blood of pets like cats and dogs, and they sometimes bite humans. Female fleas need a blood feed before they lay eggs. Adults can survive without feeding for months, and the eggs are laid in the host’s fur.

Protect Cats and Dogs from Fleas

If pets scratch and seem restless, that could mean they have fleas. You can protect them from itching with these steps.

• Observe the fur of the pet and check for any sign of movement. If you see fleas or bugs on their skin, it is time to start treatment.
• Comb the pet many times a day with a fine-toothed metal flea comb. That will remove fleas and their eggs from the pet.
• Plunge the comb in water with liquid detergent to kill the fleas.
• Ask your vet about a flea preventive for the pet.

Signs of Flea Allergy

Sometimes flea bites make pets feel irritated. However, some cats and dogs are allergic to fleas. A vet may call it flea bite hypersensitivity or flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). Some signs of FAD:

• Rashes, some bleeding or an irritated area on the skin of the pet. Dogs generally have it on their tail area, stomach and near the back legs, while cats have it near their face and neck.
• Hair loss, especially where the bites occurred.
• Small pink and red spots that look like pimples on the pet’s skin.
• Constant clawing, grooming, itching and biting.

Life Cycle and Lifespan of a Flea

The flea life cycle can take anywhere from about 2 weeks to 8 months, depending on conditions such as food supply, humidity and temperature. Adult fleas can survive for months without feeding. After their first meal of blood, female fleas begin to lay eggs within 36 to 48 hours.

Flea pupae can lie dormant in carpets and bedding, and they emerge when they sense vibration, such as footsteps or a pet moving. That is why a quiet house can suddenly fill with fleas after you return from a holiday.

How to Tell if It Is Fleas

If you see black specks on your pet or bedding, try the tissue test. Flea faeces contain digested blood.

• Place the specks on a damp white tissue.
• If they smear reddish-brown, they are flea faeces.
• Check pet bedding, carpets and the places your pet sleeps.
• Look closely at your pet’s skin around the base of the tail and the belly.

How to Kill Fleas in Your Home and Yard

Kill fleas in your home and yards by starting with simple, non-chemical steps, then calling in a professional for the rest.

• Vacuum furniture, carpets and mats.
• Wash the toys and bedding of pets in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs. If you are unable to wash a toy, it is better to throw it away.
• Steam clean pet bedding and soft furnishings.
• Mow lawns and keep the yard tidy.
• We can spray the inside of your house. Fleas love dim or dark areas, so we treat under furniture and in dark corners.
• We can spray your yard to target the fleas before they enter the home on clothes, shoes and pets.

Flea Control with Control Pest Management

Our technicians are licensed, fully insured and police checked, and our treatments are suitable for children and pets. We service the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Gladstone and Logan. See our flea control on the Gold Coast, or request a free quote. Call 1300 357 246.