Dog Flea

Ctenocephalides canis

Appearance

Image of Dog Fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) | Rentokil Pest Control Canada
  • Adult Dog fleas are 1 to 4 mm long.
  • Adult fleas are brownish black in colour, but appear reddish–black after a blood meal.
  • The legless flea larva is off–white and measures up to 5 mm long.

Lifecycle

  • Dog fleas go through a four–stage life cycle: eggs, larvae, pupae, adult.
  • The larvae are longer than the adult flea and feed on particles of excrement, dry blood, and organic substances collected in the infested area.
  • The body of an adult flea is laterally flattened, which allows it to move easily through an animal’s fur. Spines project backwards from the body of the flea, which help it to stay attached to the host animal during grooming.

Habits

  • The Dog Flea is a vector of the Dog Tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, which can also affect man.
  • A flea infestation can affect the general well–being of your pets, causing redness, hair loss, itching, allergies to flea saliva or severe skin infections.
  • As they can jump approximately 6 inches, they can move from host to host. They can also infest lawns.
  • Adults feed on the blood of cats and dogs, and they occasionally bite humans.