Did you know…
Fleas are holometabolous insects, going through the four lifecycle stages of egg, larva, pupa, and imago (adult). In most species, neither female nor male fleas are fully mature when they first emerge but must feed on blood before they become capable of reproduction. The first blood meal triggers the maturation of the ovaries in females and the dissolution of the testicular plug in males, and copulation soon follows.
What this means is that if you have some flea bites, you will likely have fleas preparing to start a family in your house.
Possible Risks
Aside from itchy spots and a potential rash, fleas can pose some risks to you, your pets and your home. These include:
Disease:Fleas do not generally carry human diseases in the UK but they can cause health issues in your pet. For example, your dog or cat could have an allergic reaction to the flea’s saliva. A serious infestation could also result in your pet developing anemia.
Discomfort: Both pets and humans itch when bitten by fleas. This can cause discomfort but excess scratching can also increase the likelihood of a secondary infection.
Embarrassment: Fleas can leave red bit marks anywhere they bit and they tend to hitchhike on humans and pets alike. This can be particularly problematic if you introduce fleas into the home of a friend or relative.
Life cycle and development
Some species breed all year round while others synchronise their activities with their hosts’ life cycles or with local environmental factors and climatic conditions. Fleas are generally most common in the summer when temperatures and humidity are best for them to breed. Flea populations consist of roughly 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae, and 5% adults. This is important to understand because if you see 10 adult fleas, that means there are likely around 100 eggs 70 larva and 20 pupae already in your home. Plus, fleas breed fast so a few can turn into a full blown infestation very quickly.
Jumping
Flea legs are long, and the hind pair is well adapted for jumping; a flea can jump vertically up to 7 in (18 cm) and horizontally up to 13 in (33 cm), making the flea one of the best jumpers of all known animals (relative to body size).
This means they can move quickly and get into nearly every area of the home. Jumping also means they are able to move from host to host quickly.
Relationship with host
Flea legs are long, and the hind pair is well adapted for jumping; a flea can jump vertically up to 7 in (18 cm) and horizontally up to 13 in (33 cm), making the flea one of the best jumpers of all known animals (relative to body size).
This means they can move quickly and get into nearly every area of the home. Jumping also means they are able to move from host to host quickly.
