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Aventis Environmental Science Fleas Description Order: Siphonaptera Characteristics: Adults 1-8mm long; brownish in colour, body laterally compressed (streamlined) and covered with backward-directed bristles; reduction or loss of eyes; piercing mouth parts; no wings, although transitory wing buds may appear in Dog Flea pupae of some species; muscular legs, with hind 2.6mm long limbs adapted for jumping; metamorphosis complete with egg, larval, pupal and adult stages. Rabbit Flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi) Mole Flea (Hystrichopsylla talpae) Species characteristics and host/habitat: Adults, 1.5-2.25mm long; pronotal and genal Adults 3.5-6mm long; genal comb of 9-12 combs, the latter with five vertically arranged spines; pronotal comb of 42-58 spines. Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis) rounded spines; basal section of legs equipped Host/habitat: associated with moles; also found Adults, 2-3.25mm long; forepart of head longer with stout spines. in gardens and outbuildings. than it is high; prominent pronotal and genal Host/habitat: especially rabbits, in whom it is combs (first teeth of genal comb nearly as long the main vector of the myxomatosis virus, but Distribution as second); basal section of legs equipped with will also attack cats; the females are sedentary Adult fleas live exclusively as parasites of warm- stout spines. and attach themselves to the host, especially blooded animals, especially mammals, although Host/habitat: especially members of Felidae around the ears and head. birds may also be attacked. Whilst they show a family, also dogs, other animals and man; found certain degree of host preference, fleas are by particularly in host bedding. Many infestations Tropical Rat Flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) no means specific and will feed on other in commercial and institutional premises derive Adults, 1.5-2.5mm long; no pronotal or genal animals in the absence of the normal host. In from feral cats. comb; row of bristles along back of head; basal fact they tend to be more nest than host- section of legs equipped with stout spines. specific, for whilst the adults may feed on the Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis) Host/habitat: various rodents, but will also blood of a variety of animals the larvae require Adults, 2-3.25mm long; forepart of head as long attack man; found especially around ports. more precise conditions which are associated as it is high; prominent pronotal and genal with the habitats and nesting habits of the hosts combs (first teeth of genal comb only about half Hedgehog Flea (Archaeopsyllus erinacei) rather than the characteristics of their blood. as long as second); basal section of legs Adults, 2-3.5mm long; genal comb of 1-3 short equipped with stout spines. spines; pronotal comb of 2-9 spines. Cat fleas are responsible for many flea Host/habitat: especially members of Canidae Host/habitat: generally associated with infestations, the remainder being attributable to family, also domestic animals and man; found hedgehogs, but occasionally brought indoors by a variety of bird and animal species. Pulex particularly in host bedding. dogs, cats and humans; also found in gardens irritans infestations are now uncommon. The and outbuildings. significance of Ctenocephalides felis is explained Human Flea (Pulex irritans) by the increased number of pets being kept and Adults, 2-3.5mm long; no pronotal or genal Bird Flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae) the tendency for their beds to be neglected comb; basal section of legs equipped with stout Adults 2-2.5mm long; no head folds to retain during cleaning. Wall-to-wall carpeting also spines. antennae; pronotal comb with more than 24 provides a relatively undisturbed environment Host/habitat: especially man, but will also teeth; no genal comb, no spines on basal for flea larvae to develop, whilst the spread of breed on pigs, hedgehogs, foxes and badgers; section of legs. central heating has served to ensure ideal found in homes, usually in bedrooms. Host/habitat: especially birds nesting in dry temperature conditions. situations but will also attack animals and man; breeding mostly limited to birds’ breeding season, migrating from the nests when fledglings leave. Often originating from birds’ nests in roof spaces. Significance and peg-like processes on the terminal b) Insecticidal control Fleas can be vectors of disease or may transmit abdominal segment. The larvae thrive in dark, Insecticides can be used to treat infested parasitic worms. The most serious infection humid places such as animal bedding and premises and protect them from reinfestation. which they can spread is bubonic plague, carpet fluff, and feed on organic debris and In addition, hosts can be treated directly, or transmitted to man by rodent fleas (Xenopsylla adult flea excrement. The latter forms a valuable rodenticides employed. cheopis) which carry the causative bacillus from part of the diet as a source of blood, which infected rats. In the past rodent fleas have been some larvae, while not attacking the host, Host treatments: responsible for serious epidemics of the disease, require for their development. Larvae may also Insecticidal products are available which have notably the Great Plague of London in 1665. be predacious, living on small and weak been specifically formulated and registered for Rodent fleas may also carry murine typhus and, arthropods. Cats’ bedding may support a flea use on the host animals. Only these products because of their readiness to attack humans as population of 8000 immature and 2000 adult should be applied to animals and care should well as rats, are probably the major flea vector forms. A typical flea infestation may be be taken to follow the manufacturer's of disease. The Dog flea is an intermediate host composed of adults 5%, larvae 35%, pupae 10% instructions. of the Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum), and eggs 50%. whose vertebrate host is usually the dog Rodenticides: (occasionally the cat) but which can sometimes After 2-3 weeks, by which time they will have Where rats and mice have been identified as the be transmitted to man. moulted twice and be about 5mm long, the primary hosts in flea infestations, rodenticides larvae spin silken cocoons, incorporating debris, can be used to control them and, indirectly, the In Europe fleas are not generally responsible for in which to pupate. The cocooned larvae then fleas. the transmission of disease. However, they are moult within three days to give the pupae which still objectionable because of the bites they are initially creamy-white but change to dark inflict and the deep-rooted social stigma brown as they mature to become adults. This Checklist for control attached to humans with flea infestations. phase is the quiescent stage and the flea may Occasionally psychological problems arise with overwinter in this state. The adult flea will then SURVEY – Define the extent of the the induction of delusory parasitosis, in which be stimulated to emerge by the vibrations set up infestation. the victim imagines he is infested with by a passing host. This explains the occasional – Identify involvement of animals. mass attacks which take place in deserted ectoparasites. PRE- – Clean thoroughly. premises. TREATMENT – Remove articles from the area to Flea bites are identified as a tiny dark red spot be treated. The development cycle from egg to adult is surrounded by a reddened area. The bite – Treat animals, as appropriate. persists for one or two days and is intensely normally completed in 4 weeks but at low TREATMENT – Interior. irritating. First bites are not generally liable to temperatures will take much longer. – Exterior. cause serious reactions, but they may lead to – Control rodents etc,as appropriate. hypersensitivity. Reactions are usually delayed Control following regular biting over a long period; Selecting flea control measures depends to a ADVISE – Expectations for control. large extent on the size of the problem. In many there will then follow a period when reactions OCCUPIER – Further actions by pest control instances infestations of well kept houses can be are immediate. The cycle then repeats until a operator and occupier. state of non-reactivity – immunity – is achieved. easily traced to pets. Where this is not the case it is useful to establish the pest species. This will help to identify possible hosts and even the foci Life-Cycle Glossary of terms of the infestations. Control measures must be Flea eggs are about 0.5mm long, oval, pearly- Genal and pronotal combs: Rows of stout spines directed at the brood as well as the adult fleas. white in colour and laid indiscriminately in the on cheek and first thoracic segment respectively. fur or feathers of the host or in its nest or bedding. They do not adhere to the host but a) Hygiene/management readily fall from the animal, are shaken or Fleas are always associated with premises that Advice scratched off. The same applies to the dark are soiled in some way. Aventis has an extensive range of products coloured faeces of the adult fleas thus creating Regular cleaning will deny the insects their specifically formulated for the control of flying the black and white - salt and pepper – effect breeding site and so make an important and crawling insect pests. contribution towards their control. Infested associated with flea infestations. Four to eight Further information on all Aventis clothing, beds and bedding should be destroyed eggs are laid after each blood meal and a single Environmental Science professional pest control by burning or thoroughly cleaned and the same female may produce 800-1000 eggs during her products is available from: lifetime, which may be as long as two years. measures employed when dealing with old bird and animal nests. Accumulations of debris Aventis Environmental Science The eggs hatch in about one week to give white, should also be removed from cracks and Fyfield Road, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0HW threadlike, legless larvae 1.5mm long.

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