Fleas are small, wingless insects with a tough cuticle bearing many bristles and frequently combs (ctenidia) of broad, flattened spines. The adult flea varies from about 0.1 to 0.32 cm (0.039 to 0.13 inch) in length and feeds exclusively on the blood of mammals (including humans) and birds. With about 2,000 species and subspecies known, the order is still a small one compared with many other groups of insects. However, it is widely distributed with some—such as the rat flea and the mouse flea—having been carried all over the world by humans. Details of the life cycle are available for only a few species. The four life stages are the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Pearly white oval eggs are deposited on the body of, or in the nest or habitat of, the host animal. The larva is small and legless and feeds on organic debris, such as dried excrement, dried bits of skin, dead mites, or dried blood found in the host’s nest. The adult fleas pass freshly imbibed blood rapidly through their gut to produce fecal matter for the nourishment of their offspring, which is essential to the successful metamorphosis of certain species of flea larvae. After three (exceptionally, two) molts, the larva spins a silk cocoon that includes debris from the nest and enters the pupal stage. The pupa emerges as an adult some days or months later. Some species can enter an arrested state of development at the end of the pupal stage and will not emerge as an adult until a host is present. Depending upon the species or environmental conditions, the time required for a complete life cycle varies from two weeks to several months.
If you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, you need to beware of ticks. Ticks are small bloodsucking parasites. Many species transmit diseases to animals and people. Some of the diseases you can get from a tick bite are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see. Ticks may get on you if you walk through areas where they live, such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs.
Fleas are small, wingless insects with a tough cuticle bearing many bristles and frequently combs (ctenidia) of broad, flattened spines. The adult flea varies from about 0.1 to 0.32 cm (0.039 to 0.13 inch) in length and feeds exclusively on the blood of mammals (including humans) and birds. With about 2,000 species and subspecies known, the order is still a small one compared with many other groups of insects. However, it is widely distributed with some—such as the rat flea and the mouse flea—having been carried all over the world by humans. Details of the life cycle are available for only a few species. The four life stages are the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Pearly white oval eggs are deposited on the body of, or in the nest or habitat of, the host animal. The larva is small and legless and feeds on organic debris, such as dried excrement, dried bits of skin, dead mites, or dried blood found in the host’s nest. The adult fleas pass freshly imbibed blood rapidly through their gut to produce fecal matter for the nourishment of their offspring, which is essential to the successful metamorphosis of certain species of flea larvae. After three (exceptionally, two) molts, the larva spins a silk cocoon that includes debris from the nest and enters the pupal stage. The pupa emerges as an adult some days or months later. Some species can enter an arrested state of development at the end of the pupal stage and will not emerge as an adult until a host is present. Depending upon the species or environmental conditions, the time required for a complete life cycle varies from two weeks to several months.
If you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, you need to beware of ticks. Ticks are small bloodsucking parasites. Many species transmit diseases to animals and people. Some of the diseases you can get from a tick bite are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see. Ticks may get on you if you walk through areas where they live, such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs.
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