Fleas

General Description
Fleas are typically reddish-brown and about one-eighth of an inch long. The body is flattened from side to side and it has long claws on its legs - both are adaptations for traveling between hair shafts. Some fleas also have spines on their mouths, legs and backs to help prevent them from being groomed off. Cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are more common on cats, dogs and humans than dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) and human fleas (Pulex irritans). Each has a preferred host. The human flea prefers the blood of humans and pigs. Cat and dog fleas prefer cats and dogs, though children can become bitten when sleeping or resting with pets. Other flea species occasionally encountered by humans include the Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) and the northern rat flea (Nosopsyllus fasciatus). These fleas live on Norway rats and roof rats, and are capable of transmitting plague and murine typhus to humans.

General Control
Knowing the flea’s life cycle is critical to successful management of flea infestations. Control measures should focus on where fleas are found and where they are suspected to be. Adult fleas are found on their hosts, so pets should be treated. Newly emerged adult fleas, flea pupae and larvae, are found where infested animals rest and sleep. These should be washed regularly and carpeting, rugs and furniture should be vacuumed thoroughly and frequently. Promptly dispose of vacuum contents in a sealable container such as a plastic bag. After vacuuming and cleaning, pesticides labeled for flea control can be applied as spot treatments. Flea problems can be challenging. Complete control requires knowledge, attention to detail and perseverance. Those unwilling or unable to conduct a complete flea prevention effort should consider hiring a pest management professional.