Fleas

1. Ctenocephalides felis

   Annotations:

   • This is REALLY COMMON!  Found on dogs, humans etc.
   1. Cat Flea
   2. Life Cycle

      Annotations:

      • More details on life cycle in book. 
      1. Adult
         1. Egg
            1. Larvae
               1. Cocoon

                  Annotations:

                  • Sticky silken cocoon that debris sticks to 0.5cm long
                  1. Adult
               2. This stage can last between 1 & several weeks.
                  1. Yellowish
                     1. 2-5mm
                     2. Maggot like
                     3. Bristley
                  2. Chitinous mouthparts
                  3. Anal struts

                     Annotations:

                     • Used with the bristles for vigorous motility.
                  4. Negatively phototropic so hide in carpets / under furniture

                     Annotations:

                     • They feed on flea dirt Grow to 5mm - 2 moults In 1-7 weeks - temperature dependent. Susceptible to dessication. 
            2. Starts laying after 1-2 days
               1. Eggs drop to the ground within a few hours as they're not sticky
               2. What does pelage mean?
                  1. Fur / feathers
      2. Uses changes in light intensity, warmth & CO2 to locate hosts
         1. Almost permanent!
         2. Transfer: mostly adult unfed fleas from the environment
            1. Som transfer due to close contact with another host animal
      3. Life span = 7-10 days dependant on grooming habits
2. Ctenocephalides canis

   Annotations:

   • Relatively uncommon
   1. Dog Flea
3. Ceratophyllus gallinae

   Annotations:

   • Common on poultry but can also be found on wild birds, pets & humans.
   1. Poultry Flea
4. Pulex irritans

   Annotations:

   • Uncommon / rare
   1. Human Flea
5. Spilopsyllus

   Annotations:

   • Wildlife flea but especially on rabbits. Also found on pets.
   1. Rabbit flea

1. Wingless insects
2. Laterally flattened

   Annotations:

   • WHY? So that they can fit between hairs!
3. ADULTS: Blood sucking ectoparasites
4. Why are they a problem?

   Annotations:

   • Normally a problem when there are large numbers of them!
   1. Pruritis
   2. Anaemia
   3. Annoying!
   4. Allergies to flea saliva
      1. Just a few bites can trigger a reaction
   5. Intermediate hosts for tapeworm

      Annotations:

      • Dipylidium
5. Flea dirt = faeces

Annotations:

• Notes in book are better!

1. Aided by rows of chitinous spines
   1. COMBS / CTENIDIA
      1. Chin combs
         1. Genal
      2. Back of head combs
         1. Pronotal
2. General appearanace -->

   Annotations:

   • 2-4 mm Small Dark brown Long hind legs Laterally compressed
3. Key differences between cat & dog fleas
   1. C. canis
      1. Streamlined head
      2. 1st two genal spines are different sizes
   2. C. felis
      1. Streamlined head
      2. 1st 2 genal spines = same size

1. Insect juvenile hormone
   1. Controls embyonic development & maintains juvenile characters.
2. Moulting hormone (ecdysone)
   1. Initiates moulting & pupation
3. Insect growth regulators (IGRs)
   1. Chemicals that disrupt insect development