There are dozens of different species of fleas, but the Cat Flea is by far the most common flea on pets and in structures in the United States.
All fleas are similar in appearance with small (2.6mm) wingless bodies, flattened from side to side and with long hind legs for jumping. They are black to reddish black in color, have spiny legs, and rows of spines along the body called 'combs'. The location of the combs are used to identify which species of flea it is. Cat fleas have these combs in a row below the head and at the back of the head. Cat fleas can be found on cats, dogs, raccoons, and opossum.
Cat Fleas are blood feeders as adults. The adults remain on the animals they feed on unless physically forced off. They can live up to a year. Eggs hatch in a few days, and the lifecycle progresses from larva to pupa, and finally adulthood. Under ideal conditions the time from egg to adult can be as short as 2 weeks, or can take up to several months if there is no host to stimulate the pupa to advance to the adult stage. Flea larva are rarely seen. They are legless and whitish or reddish color with a brown head and when disturbed are able to flip about violently in order to escape.
While do-it-yourself flea treatments are available, most will help in eliminating the adult fleas, but generally do not help with the larva, pupa and eggs thus allowing the adult population to re-establish. Therefore, if population persists, a call to Long Pest Control can develop an Integrated Pest Control program to eliminate your sightings and provide an environment free of unwanted pests year round.
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Flea