Flea

Flea, very small, wingless, laterally flattened insect of order Siphonaptera. Of the 180 species and subspecies indigenous to Canada, 23 are PARASITES of birds, the remainder being mammal parasites.

Range

Six species, introduced from Europe or Asia, are common parasites of humans and domestic animals. Worldwide, the flea fauna is much larger, but incompletely documented. Fleas are most numerous in dry climates such as in BC and Alberta as compared to Québec and the Maritimes.

Structure

Adult fleas are highly specialized: their tough, bristly integument (outer covering) helps adapt them to existence as external parasites of warm-blooded hosts. Ancestors originated in Asia and evolved primarily as temporary parasites of small mammals.

Reproduction and Development

The life cycle begins with an egg, laid in fur or feathers, which drops to the host's nest or the ground. The larva is nonparasitic, feeding on organic debris. It develops into a pupa, enclosed in a cocoon. Both stages are sedentary. Adult fleas can leap 200 times their own length.

Interaction with Humans

Their habits of feeding on blood and occupying filthy places make fleas potential transmitters of disease, particularly bubonic or sylvatic plague.

Author W.O. HAUFE

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.

E-Fauna BC
An extensively illustrated guide to wildlife species found in British Columbia. Covers bats, birds, beetles, bugs and much more. Also features an insect glossary and notes about invasive species. A biogeographic initiative of the Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, UBC.

The Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes
This website provides information about the scope and contents of the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes. Check the “Index” link for illustrated descriptions of various taxonomic groups.

University of Alberta's E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Check out images and information about insect specimens found in the University of Alberta's E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, one of the most significant insect collections in Canada.

Aquatic Invertebrates of Alberta Online Textbook
An online guide to all major groups of Alberta's aquatic invertebrates. Offers illustrated details of the natural history of each group as well as tips on collecting and preserving specimens. A University of Alberta website.