Species Ctenocephalides felis - Cat Flea

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · See Also · Internet References

Flea (Siphonaptera) - Ctenocephalides felis

Gravid cat flea - Ctenocephalides felis - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Siphonaptera (Fleas)

Family Pulicidae

Genus Ctenocephalides (Cat and Dog Fleas)

Species felis (Cat Flea)

Explanation of Names

FELIS: from the Latin "felis" or "feles" (a cat); Felis is a genus of cats, the principal host of this species

Numbers

one of two species in this genus in North America

Size

body length 1.5-2.5 mm

Identification

forehead low and sloping; genal comb with 7-8 sharp teeth, the first tooth about equal in length to the second

Range

cosmopolitan

Habitat

common on cats and dogs; also occurs on coyotes, foxes, rabbits, rats, humans

Food

adults feed on blood of the host

Remarks

See Siphonaptera page for general information and references on fleas.

Internet References

preserved adult image and other info (U. of California, Berkeley)

preserved adult image plus classification, references, and links (David Maddison, Tree of Life)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 4 September, 2005 - 3:55am
Last updated 4 September, 2005 - 4:24pm

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