How many flea species are there

Have you ever tried to pull a flea off of your dog? Most species of fleas are tan to reddish-brown in color. They have a very strong outer shell covering their body called an exoskeleton which makes it difficult for us to crush them between our fingers.

Oftentimes the flea jumps away unscathed. Fleas infesting your home, your yard or your pets can be very unsettling and difficult to eliminate. Some pets are very sensitive to flea bites causing them to bite and scratch almost uncontrollably, which can lead to skin irritations, sores and loss of hair — not to mention the emotional trauma the pet goes through.

If you suspect that any type of flea may be invading your home, call a pest control professional to schedule an inspection and help you develop a plan to solve the problem. Rat Fleas - Both the oriental and northern species feed on Norway and roof rats and spread serious diseases. These different types of fleas can transmit various infections, including plague, murine typhus, and cat-scratch disease. The insects all bite people and pets, which may trigger allergic reactions.

Their ability to lay many eggs means that flea infestations often get out of hand. Of all the different types of fleas, cat fleas are the most common issue for homeowners. These pests have one of the broadest host ranges of any type of flea. In addition to dogs, cats, and humans, they infest wild animals like raccoons, opossums, and foxes, which may affect pets in the yard.

Unlike other species, cat fleas stay on their hosts after feeding, mating, and laying eggs. Eggs or larvae then fall off pets and spread to beds, carpeting, and furniture. Fleas have characteristically long, muscular legs, each with a pair of claws used to grasp host hairs.

Their famous jumping ability results primarily from a highly elastic piece of exoskeleton at the base of their hind legs, made of resilin. Resilin is an elastic protein, responsible for the efficient flight of most other insects.

When a flea prepares to jump, this lump of resilin is locked into a compressed state, like a coiled spring. While most flea species inhabit Eurasia, close to species are found in North America, with at least species in Canada. Most of these occur in Western Canada, where there is a greater number of rodent and small mammal hosts: British Columbia has around 89 flea species, Alberta around 57, and Saskatchewan about 36, while the remaining provinces and territories have fewer than 30 species apiece.

Six of the most common species in Canada are believed to have been introduced from Europe or Asia, and are parasites of humans and domestic animals such as Ctenocephalides canis on dogs and C.

Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis. Eventually, the larva spins a cocoon and transforms into a pupa inside of it. Pupae can remain in their cocoons for anywhere from a week to a year. Adults, once developed, emerge and find their way onto a host animal.

Adults of both sexes and of virtually all species depend on blood for nourishment and reproduction. Mating usually takes place on the host animal, and having mated just once, a female flea can continue to fertilize eggs using stored sperm. Most fleas lay eggs in small batches or broods, and the number of broods in a year is highly variable between species.

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis , can lay close to two dozen eggs per day over the course of a month. Newly formed adults can lay dormant in a host nest for up to a year or more, until a host animal is detected. In fact, upon entering an empty home where flea-infested pets previously lived, sometimes fleas can be seen suddenly leaping up from the floor. These formerly dormant fleas have detected a potential host a human using cues such as low-frequency sound, vibration and increases in temperature and carbon dioxide levels.

Some fleas feed only on specific host animals, but many are less picky. In pets, fleas serve as an intermediate host for tapeworm. The saliva of these biting pests is known to cause serious flea allergy dermatitis in dogs and cats. Fleas have the ability to reproduce quickly, which makes flea infestations very difficult to control. In fact, fleas can produce as many as to offspring in their lifetime.

A veterinarian can recommend the best methods and products for treating fleas on your pet. However, if you discover fleas in your home, it's important to contact a licensed pest professional to assist with flea control. Enter your zip code here to locate a pest control company near you. Stink bugs are an invasive species that release a smelly odor when crushed. Find out how to keep them out of your home this fall. Spotted lanternflies are an invasive species known to be a major threat to agriculture.

Find out how to prevent and dispose of them. Tickborne Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever present similar symptoms, so it's important to know the differences between the two.