Fleas are small, dark brown insects that live off the blood of mammals and birds. They are wingless and have a hard, flattened body that is well-adapted for moving through fur or feathers. Fleas are excellent jumpers and can leap up to 20 times their own body length. This makes them very difficult to catch and eliminates many potential predators.
Fleas go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs are laid on the host animal and fall off into the environment where they hatch into larvae. The larvae feed on organic matter in the environment before pupating into adults. Once mature, fleas will seek out a host animal on which to feed.
Adult fleas can live for several months without feeding but must have a blood meal every few days to survive. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day and can produce several thousand eggs over her lifetime. This high reproductive potential means that even a small number of fleas can quickly lead to infestation levels that are difficult to control.
Flea bites cause irritation and discomfort for both humans and animals alike. In some cases, flea bites can also transmit diseases such as typhus fever or cat scratch disease. For this reason, it is important to take measures to prevent flea infestations in both homes and outdoor areas where pets or people frequent.