Fleas

About Fleas

Fleas are tiny, wingless, blood-feeding parasites that are a persistent problem for Orange County pet owners and homeowners. The cat flea is the most common species, infesting both cats and dogs as well as biting humans. Adult fleas live on their hosts, feeding on blood and laying up to 50 eggs per day that fall off into carpets, bedding, and upholstery. Flea larvae develop in these hidden environments before pupating inside sticky cocoons that can remain dormant for months. This life cycle makes fleas incredibly difficult to eliminate without treating both the pet and the entire indoor and outdoor environment simultaneously.

How to Identify Fleas

• Dark reddish-brown, wingless, about 1/8 inch long with a laterally flattened body
• Powerful hind legs adapted for jumping up to 150 times their body length
• Leave small dark droppings (flea dirt) on pet bedding that turn red when wet
• Bites appear as small red, itchy bumps, often around ankles and lower legs on humans

Lifecycle

Adult fleas begin feeding within minutes of finding a host and start laying eggs within 24 to 48 hours. Eggs fall into carpets and cracks, hatching into larvae in 2 to 14 days. Larvae spin cocoons and pupate for 1 to 2 weeks, though pupae can remain dormant for up to a year waiting for vibration or warmth signals from a potential host.

Health & Property Risks

• Cause allergic dermatitis in pets and humans, leading to intense itching and hair loss
• Transmit tapeworms to pets and occasionally to children
• Heavy infestations can cause anemia in young, old, or small pets
• Carry and transmit murine typhus and other bacterial diseases