Fleas
SiphonapteraFlea Identification
Pest Stats
Color
Dark reddish-brown
Legs
6
Shape
Flat
Size
1/12 to 1/6-inch long
Antennae
Yes
Region
Found throughout U.S.
What do Fleas Look Like?
The size of a flea varies between 1/12’’ to 1/6” in length and they tend to be dark red or brown in color. They are relatively flat in shape and have two antennae and six legs. They do not possess wings, although their strong legs allow them to jump long distances. While they are a small pest, fleas can typically be seen with the naked eye. Adult fleas are equipped with bristles that point backward, which allows them to move swiftly through fur, hair and feathers.
Signs of a Flea Infestation
There are many signs of a flea infestation but the most common include scratching, hair loss and red bumps. You may also notice small black specks, which is usually flea feces, scattered throughout pet beds, carpets and rugs. Flea larvae is harder to find and is usually located in more secretive locations like behind furniture or inside the cracks of floors. These eggs are deposited on your pet by the female adult flea, allowing them to fall off of your pet as they move and dispersing them throughout the areas your pet lives in. If you see some of the above signs, you should contact a flea control professional.
Flea Infestation
Do Fleas Bite?
Fleas will bite both people and pests alike. Their bites commonly cause small painful, itchy red bumps with a “halo” around the bite center. Unlike mosquito bites, they remain small and usually appear in groups of three or four, or in a straight line. On humans, bites are commonly found around the ankles or legs, as well as the waist, groin, armpits and in the skin folds of the elbows and knees. Their saliva can also cause serious flea allergy dermatitis in pets and their debris has been reported to cause similar allergic reactions in humans.
Flea bites will usually subside on their own without any treatment. However, in order to stay safe from further biting, an infestation needs to be permanently and professionally dealt with.

Flea Education
Habits
Fleas can live for about 100 days during which time the females can produce up to 2,000 offspring. These pests transport themselves on rodents and other mammals, usually remaining on their hosts at all times. Fleas use their powerful legs to jump as high as 8” vertically, which is 150 times their own height.
Like other pests, fleas are able to easily infest households. They’re commonly called “freeloaders” because they transfer to new environments by latching onto mammals, as well as shoes, pant legs and blankets. Once inside, fleas usually hide in areas where pets and people sleep such as furniture, beds and carpeting, as well as the cracks of hardwood floors. Fleas can be found in any part of the United States.
Threats
Fleas are the most common transmitter of the rare bubonic plague. They also transmit the bacterial disease murine typhus to humans through infected rats. Additionally, fleas can transfer tapeworms and cause anemia in pets, which is why active flea management is an important component of pet care.