Species Ctenocephalides canis - Dog Flea

Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis)

Egg - white 0.5 mm

Larvae - 1.0 mm

Adult - 1.5-2.0 mm

Comments here (and also quoted below in some other sections) from Jerrod Johnson and "Foundations of Parasitology" textbook:

The adult dog flea can only be identified microscopically. The head is more rounded anteriorly than the more common cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). The first genal comb (ctenidium) is shorter than the remaining row of ctenidia. The arrangement of setae on the hind tarsi may be used to confirm identification (a key can be found on the CDC website).

Cosmopolitan, more common in Europe.

The adult feed on blood from their hosts, dogs and other mammals.

"Like other fleas, the dog flea has a holometabolous life cycle and the time from egg to adult is usually 21 days with ideal warmth and humidity. Eggs are laid on the host and usually fall to the ground and develop into small "Maggot-like" larvae that feed off of frass that also falls from the host. After 3 molts, the larvae will spin a cocoon out of silk. Substrate from the environment will adhere to the silk making a casing that protects the developing pupa from the environment, even most insecticides. Which is why most "Foggers" are completely useless against pupae and a vacuum is the best method of removal. When development is complete the newly developed flea will search for a host and the life cycle will begin again".

"Fleas are known to be carriers of many human diseases such as bubonic plaque, murine typhus, etc. They are responsible for transmission of Bartonella henselae which is the causative agent of "Cat Scratch Disease." They act as intermediate hosts for the feline and canine cucumber seed tapeworm Dipyllidium caninum".

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