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<categorytree mode=pages style="float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1ex; border:1px solid gray; padding:0.7ex; background-color:white;">Insecta</categorytree>

<categorytree mode=pages style="float:right; clear:right; margin-left:1ex; border:1px solid gray; padding:0.7ex; background-color:white;">Insecta</categorytree>

[[Image: flea.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Robert Hooke's famous flea from Micrographia]]

[[Image: flea.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Robert Hooke's famous flea from Micrographia]]

Adult fleas are blood sucking ectoparasites which can cause pruritis, annoyance, loss of condition and anaemia if present in large numbers. [[Skin Immunologic - Pathology#Flea bite hypersensitivity|Flea allergic dermatitis]] can also occur where the animal becomes allergic to the antigens in the flea saliva triggering a hypersensitivity reaction when the flea bites.

[[Flea Structure]]

 

Fleas can also act as intermediate hosts for the tapeworm [[Dipylidium|''Dipylidium'']] and as an important vector for diseases such as cat scratch disease, the bubonic plague and [[Myxomatosis|myxomatosis]].

The terms '''ctenidia''' and '''combs''' can be used interchangably for spines on the head/thorax. Spines on the cheeks are referred to as '''genal''' and spines on the thorax are called '''pronotal''' combs. The presence and location of the chitinous spines are important in differentiating between the different flea species. The chitinous anal struts are also used for identification and help the flea larvae with vigorous motility.

The terms '''ctenidia''' and '''combs''' can be used interchangably for spines on the head/thorax. Spines on the cheeks are referred to as '''genal''' and spines on the thorax are called '''pronotal''' combs. The presence and location of the chitinous spines are important in differentiating between the different flea species. The chitinous anal struts are also used for identification and help the flea larvae with vigorous motility.

==Life Cycle==

==[[Flea Life Cycle]]==

[[Image:Flea larvae.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flea Larvae - Wikimedia Commons]]

[[Image:Flea larvae.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flea Larvae - Wikimedia Commons]]

A thorough understanding of the flea life-cycle is important in order to be able to advise owners of adequate treatments to control flea infections on their animals and within the home environment.

A thorough understanding of the flea life-cycle is important in order to be able to advise owners of adequate treatments to control flea infections on their animals and within the home environment.

*Newly emerged unfed adults can survive days without feeding but once they have fed, if they fall off the host they can only survive hours

*Newly emerged unfed adults can survive days without feeding but once they have fed, if they fall off the host they can only survive hours

==Habitats==

==Habitats==