About Flea
Fleas (order Siphonaptera) are wingless, laterally flattened parasites measuring 1.5–3.3 mm capable of jumping 150 times their own body length — the equivalent of a human jumping roughly 900 feet. The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) infests dogs, cats, and humans alike. Females lay 20–50 eggs per day in host bedding and carpets, meaning the home environment must be treated as aggressively as the host animal. Fleas transmit tapeworms and murine typhus and, historically, served as the primary vector of bubonic plague by carrying Yersinia pestis from rats to humans.
Geographic Distribution
This insect is found across North America, with notable populations in Canada and surrounding regions.
Management
If you suspect a Flea problem, consult our recommended exterminator services or browse our full pest species database for related species and control guidance.