Difference between revisions of "Flea Life Cycle"

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{{OpenPagesTop}}
 
 
[[Image:Flea larvae.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Flea Larvae'' <p> Kalumet 2006, Wikimedia Commons]]
 
[[Image:Flea larvae.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Flea Larvae'' <p> Kalumet 2006, 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.
  
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The time for the egg to develop into the adult flea takes around '''3-4 weeks''' in summer, however, the duration of the life cycle is largely dependent on the environmental temperature.
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*The time for the egg to develop into the adult flea takes '''3-4 weeks''' in summer
  
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==1. Adults==
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*Duration of the life cycle is dependent on environmental temperature
  
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Once the adult flea finds a host it will usually remain. The adult flea takes frequent blood meals. Around 97% of fleas will feed within 1 hour of finding a host and feed for approximately 10-25 minutes. '''Flea dirt''' (faeces) is produced in large quantities. 
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'''1. Adults'''
  
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The life span of the flea is largely determined by the grooming activity of the host.  Usually the adult flea lives for '''7 to 10 days'''
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*Uses changes in light intensity, warmth and carbon dioxide to locate host
  
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==2. Eggs==
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*Once on host, the flea will usually remain
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**With animals in close contact there may be a small degree of transfer between hosts
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**The majority of adult fleas are acquired from the '''environment'''
  
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The adult female usually lays eggs each day after locating a host, producing around 15 eggs per day.
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*The adult flea takes frequent blood meals. 97% of fleas will feed within 1 hour of finding a host and feed for about 10-25 minutes.
  
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The eggs are ivory white, oval and approximately 0.5mm long. The eggs drop to the ground within hours. In reality this usually happens when the animal makes sudden movements. Flea eggs will therefore cluster in these '''hot spots''' around the house. These areas should be paid particular attention when treating the environment in the case of a flea infestation.
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*'''Flea dirt''' (faeces) are produced in large quantities
  
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==3. Larvae==
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*The life span of the flea is determined by the grooming activity of the host
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**Usually the adult flea lives for between '''7 and 10 days'''
  
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The larvae are small, at around 2-5mm in length.  Larvae are yellow/white (look like maggots) and are covered in bristles.  They have chitinous mouthparts and anal struts, which can be used for identification.  The Larvae are negatively phototropic, so try to move away from light sources e.g. under furniture, into thick mats or carpet. Larvae feed on skin debris from other animals, flea dirt and other organic debris.  High humidity is often needed for survival, and freezing temperatures will kill larvae.
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'''2. Eggs'''
  
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==4. Pupae==
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*The adult lays eggs 1-2 days after locating a host
  
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The larvae pupate, forming pupae around 5mm in length.  A silk cocoon surrounds the pupae, which is slightly sticky so small particles adhere to it.  These quickly become camouflaged in the environment.  Methoprene, the juvenile development hormone, coordinates the growth of the immature stages, and activates genetic switches, determining the sequence of tissue and organ development.
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*Approximately '''15 eggs''' are layed in the coat per day
  
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Newly developed adults do not leave the cocoon straight away.  The '''pupal window''' is the time that it takes for the adult to emerge.  Temperature is a large factor in determining when the adult fleas emerge.  Some fleas may wait several months before emerging
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*Eggs are ivory white, oval and approxiamtely 0.5mm long
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Newly emerged unfed adults can survive days without feeding but once they have fed, if they fall off the host they can only survive a few hours.
 
  
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{{Learning
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*The eggs drop to the ground within hours
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|flashcards = [[Fleas_Flashcards|Flea Flashcards]]
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**In reality this usually happens when the animal jumps of the sofa or makes sudden movements. Flea eggs will therefore cluster in these '''hot spots''' around the house. These areas should be paid particular attention when treating the environment in the case of a flea infestation.  
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|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?rowId=2&options2=AND&q2=flea&occuring2=title&rowId=3&options3=AND&q3=%22life+cycle%22&occuring3=title&x=37&y=12&publishedstart=yyyy&publishedend=yyyy&calendarInput=yyyy-mm-dd&la=any&it=any&show=all Flea life cycle publications]
 
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|Vetstream = [https://www.vetstream.com/canis/search?s=flea Fleas]
 
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}}
 
  
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'''3. Larvae'''
  
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{{review}}
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*Larvae are small, about 2-5mm in length
  
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{{OpenPages}}
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*Larvae are yellow/white (look like maggots) and are covered in bristles
  
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[[Category:Fleas|B]].
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*They have chitinous mouthparts and anal struts which can be used for identification
  
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*Larvae are negatively phototropic so try to move away from light sources
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**E.g. under furniture, into thick mats or carpet
  
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[[Category:Expert_Review]]
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*Larvae feed on skin debris from other animals, flea dirt and other organic debris
 +
 
 +
*High humidity is needed for survival
 +
 
 +
*Freezing temperatures will kill larvae
 +
 
 +
'''4. Pupae'''
 +
 
 +
*The larvae pupate forming pupae of 5mm in length
 +
 
 +
*A silken cocoon surrounds the pupae
 +
**Slightly sticky so small particles adhere to it
 +
**These quickly become camouflaged in the environment
 +
 
 +
*Methoprene, the juvenile development hormone coordinates the growth of the immature stages
 +
**Activates genetic switches
 +
**Determines the sequence of tissue and organ development
 +
 
 +
*Newly developed adults do not leave the cocoon straight away
 +
**The '''pupal window''' is the time that it takes for the adult to emerge
 +
**Temperature determines when the adult fleas emerge
 +
**Some fleas may wait several months before emerging
 +
 
 +
*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[[Category:Fleas|B]]
 +
[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]

Revision as of 11:02, 27 July 2010

Flea Larvae

Kalumet 2006, 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.

  • The time for the egg to develop into the adult flea takes 3-4 weeks in summer
  • Duration of the life cycle is dependent on environmental temperature

1. Adults

  • Uses changes in light intensity, warmth and carbon dioxide to locate host
  • Once on host, the flea will usually remain
    • With animals in close contact there may be a small degree of transfer between hosts
    • The majority of adult fleas are acquired from the environment
  • The adult flea takes frequent blood meals. 97% of fleas will feed within 1 hour of finding a host and feed for about 10-25 minutes.
  • Flea dirt (faeces) are produced in large quantities
  • The life span of the flea is determined by the grooming activity of the host
    • Usually the adult flea lives for between 7 and 10 days

2. Eggs

  • The adult lays eggs 1-2 days after locating a host
  • Approximately 15 eggs are layed in the coat per day
  • Eggs are ivory white, oval and approxiamtely 0.5mm long
  • The eggs drop to the ground within hours
    • In reality this usually happens when the animal jumps of the sofa or makes sudden movements. Flea eggs will therefore cluster in these hot spots around the house. These areas should be paid particular attention when treating the environment in the case of a flea infestation.

3. Larvae

  • Larvae are small, about 2-5mm in length
  • Larvae are yellow/white (look like maggots) and are covered in bristles
  • They have chitinous mouthparts and anal struts which can be used for identification
  • Larvae are negatively phototropic so try to move away from light sources
    • E.g. under furniture, into thick mats or carpet
  • Larvae feed on skin debris from other animals, flea dirt and other organic debris
  • High humidity is needed for survival
  • Freezing temperatures will kill larvae

4. Pupae

  • The larvae pupate forming pupae of 5mm in length
  • A silken cocoon surrounds the pupae
    • Slightly sticky so small particles adhere to it
    • These quickly become camouflaged in the environment
  • Methoprene, the juvenile development hormone coordinates the growth of the immature stages
    • Activates genetic switches
    • Determines the sequence of tissue and organ development
  • Newly developed adults do not leave the cocoon straight away
    • The pupal window is the time that it takes for the adult to emerge
    • Temperature determines when the adult fleas emerge
    • Some fleas may wait several months before emerging
  • 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
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