Fleas are external parasites of mammals and birds, but the most common damage they can cause is to humans and household pets. They can have a significant economic impact, as billions of dollars are spent in America alone, only on flea related veterinary bills, pet groomers or prescriptions for flea treatment.
Fleas are insects from the order Siphonaptera. They are known as external parasites of warm-blooded animals, living off the blood of mammals and birds. They are flattened sideways to enable them to move through their host’s fur or feathers, and have strong claws to prevent themselves from being dislodged.
Fleas are some of the most annoying pests, due to the effect they have on their hosts. The itching sensation that occurs after the flea’s bite, can be quite a nuisance, while the host keeps trying to remove the flea through biting, pecking or scratching.
Fleas are insects from the order Siphonaptera. They are known as external parasites of warm-blooded animals, living off the blood of mammals and birds. They are flattened sideways to enable them to move through their host’s fur or feathers, and have strong claws to prevent themselves from being dislodged. They are wingless insects, with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood and hind legs adapted for jumping. There are over 2,500 species of fleas worldwide, many of which are little studied. Around 94% of species are associated with mammalian hosts, and only about 3% can be considered to be specific parasites of birds, although they are believed to have originated from mammalian fleas. The most common categories of fleas are: the cat fleas, the bird fleas, and the dog fleas. Exclusively human fleas are extremely rare, though humans can become infested by cat or dog fleas.