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The
Diversity of The World of Life
True
Insects (Insecta)
Fleas
(Siphonaptera)
Representatives
Fleas
Biology
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF KNOWN SPECIES WORLDWIDE
Over 1500
DESCRIPTION
Fleas are usually less than 1/4" long.
The body is hard, bristly, and flat from side-to-side. The very short antennae are usually hidden in grooves on the
sides of the head. The mouthparts
are piercing-sucking. The legs
are thick at the base and used in jumping.
There are no wings. The abdomen
is distinctly segmented.
METAMORPHOSIS
The pale-colored larvae are maggot-like, although with a
distinct head -- more like the larva of a weevil
than that of a fly. The pupa
is in a silk cocoon.
HABITATS
The eggs eventually end-up on the ground or floor, where
the larvae develop. The
adults are parasites, found especially on birds or mammals.
They can jump well, on and between their "hosts", and
will often spend much time off their hosts (although a blood-meal at some
point is
required for reproduction).
FOODS
The larva of a flea consumes organic litter; but the
adult sucks the blood of its host, usually of any of several species (For
example, the most common flea on dogs is actually the "cat
flea").
DAMAGES/BENEFITS
Some adult fleas (such as the Tropical "chigoe" flea) burrow
into the skin of their host, but most stay on top of the skin and suck the
blood of their host. The bloodsucking of a
few species of fleas can spread such horrible diseases as the bubonic plague between
rodents or other wild animals and us human beings: Called the
"Black Death", the bubonic plague wiped-out a quarter of the population
of Medieval Europe; today, fortunately, this disease is preventable -- by
insecticides, rat-control, and quarantines -- and curable -- by
medicines.
True
Insects (Insecta)
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