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Genus Ctenocephalides - Cat and Dog Fleas

Flea (Siphonaptera) - Ctenocephalides felis Dog Flea - Ctenocephalides canis Gravid cat flea - Ctenocephalides felis - female Dead flea found in cat's bed - Ctenocephalides felis Flea off of one my cats - Ctenocephalides felis Cat Flea - Ctenocephalides felis Ctenocephalides felis felis? - Ctenocephalides felis - male - female Flea - Ctenocephalides
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Siphonaptera (Fleas)
Family Pulicidae
Genus Ctenocephalides (Cat and Dog Fleas)
Numbers
2 species in North America: the Cat Flea and the Dog Flea (nearctica.com)
Size
1.5-2.5 mm
Identification
conspicuous genal and pronotal combs; one row of bristles on each abdominal segment
Remarks
See the Siphonaptera page for general information and references on fleas.
The Dog Flea (C. canis) is an intermediate host for the dog tapeworm. The tapeworm develops in the flea larva after the larva ingests a tapeworm egg. When a dog bites an adult flea, the tapeworm enters the dog's digestive system.
Internet References
larva image of C. canis (Kevin Baldwin, Momouth College, Illinois)