INTRODUCTION. Fleas are one of the more important groups of insect pests because they not only cause discomfort by biting, but they can transmit several diseases such as plaque and murine typhus.  Cat fleas are found throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

RECOGNITION. Adults about 1/8in 2.5 mm) long.  Winds lacking.  Body laterally flattened (side to side).  Color brownish black to black, but reddish black when full of blood.  Females head twice as long as high.  Compound eyes well developed.  Both genal and pronotal combs present, each composed of 16 spines, and genal combs first 2 anterior spines of about equal length.  Femur of hind leg with 7-10 bristles on inner side.  Abdominal terga (dorsal plate of segments) 2-6 with a single row of bristles.  In addition, antennae short, 3 segmented; ocelli lacking; legs long, coxae large, tarsi 5-segmented; usually jumping insects; mouthparts piercing-sucking with well-developed palps.

     Mature larvae about twice the adult length.  Larvae whitish, slender, eyeless, and leggless.  With a well-developed head.  Anal hooks 2, small.  With moderately long, backward-projecting setae (hairs) encircling each segment.

Copyright(c) 2005 Hammond and Lemmons. All rights reserved.
customerservice@hammondandlemmons.com