| The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the cause
of over three-quarters of all flea infestations. At 2-3mm long,
it is often found in host bedding and, in instances of infestation
in commercial premises, can often be traced to a feral cat problem.
Human and dog fleas are less common and the majority of human flea
bites come from cat fleas. Adult fleas live off the blood of a variety
of warm blooded-animals and birds. They are more nest than host
specific and will feed on other animals in the absence of the preferred
host.
Fleas are carriers of both disease, such as typhus and bubonic
plague, and also parasitic worms. Rodent fleas, in particular, are
a prevalent source of murine typhus. In the UK, fleas are less of
a concern from a disease perspective but their bites - visible as
small deep-red spots within a reddened area - are painful and irritating
and carry a social stigma. Flea larvae develop easily in typical
living room conditions with wall to wall carpeting and central heating.
Pest information supplied by Sorex.
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