SHEHZAD SALMAN

Roll no. 30

Semester 5th

Entomology 507

CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Subclass: Pterygota Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Endopterygota Order: Siphonaptera

INTRODUCTION

There are over 2,000 described species of fleas in the world.

The most common domestic flea is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis).

The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) appears similar to the cat flea, but is rare.

. The stick tight flea (Echidnophaga gallinacea) can become a problem if pet’s frequent areas associated with poultry.

IDENTIFICATION(Adult Fleas)

Adult fleas are about 1/16 to 1/8-inch long (2-8 mm).

Dark reddish-brown. Wingless. Hard-bodied (difficult to crush between

fingers). They have piercing-sucking mouthparts

IDENTIFICATION(Adult Fleas)

Have three pairs of legs (hind legs enlarged enabling jumping) and are flattened vertically or side to side (bluegill or sunfish-like) allowing easy movement between the hair, fur or feathers of the host.

Spines on the body projecting backward There is a row of spines on the face

known as a genal comb.

IDENTIFICATION(Flea’s Eggs)

Eggs are oval, and smooth They are tiny (0.5mm), but visible to

the naked eye. Small wormlike larvae (1.5-5 mm in

length) hatch from the eggs.

IDENTIFICATION(Flea’s larvae)

These have chewing mouthparts. These are active, and avoid light.

IDENTIFICATION(Flea pupae)

Pupae are enclosed in silken cocoons covered with particles of debris.

Flea Habitat

Fleas are likely to be found where pets feed, rest and play

From late December to late February it’s the peak of the flea season

Prolonged periods of warm, humid weather in the summer months provide ideal conditions for fleas to flourish

Flea Reproduction

Fleas have a four stage life cycle. 1. Eggs, 2. Larvae, 3. Pupa, 4. flea adults .

The complete life cycle from flea eggs to flea adults can vary from two weeks to eight months.

Female fleas use the blood to nourish developing eggs, she will lay up to 4 eggs after each blood meal.

Most female fleas will lay 100 eggs with in her life of approximately eight months.

The flea eggs hatch when they are vibrated from animal or human disturbance.

Life Cycle & Biology

Cat flea adults, unlike many other fleas, remain on their host .

Females require a fresh blood meal in order to produce eggs.

they can lay up to 1 per hour. The young fleas will hatch within 2

days and feed on dandruff, grain particles, and skin flakes found on the floor around them.

Larvae spin silken cocoons within carpet fibers.

Under optimal conditions, new adults are ready to emerge within 2 weeks.

They develop faster at higher temperatures, but can remain in their cocoons up to 12 months.

Vibrations and/or an increase in carbon dioxide stimulate adults to emerge.

Life span of a flea

A flea might live a year and a half under ideal conditions.

Generally speaking, an adult flea only lives for 2 or 3 months.

Without a host for food, a flea's life might be as short as a few days.

Problems Associated With Fleas

The cat flea is capable of transmitting plague and murine typhus to humans.

Bites usually cause minor itching, but may be more irritating to those with sensitive skin.

Cat fleas also serve as intermediate hosts of the dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum)

The flea is infected by ingestion of the cyst during its larval stage.

Detection and Monitoring

Detection is as simple as seeing fleas on your pet.

The black dirt is the adult flea feces left behind to serve as food for larvae

Monitoring is more difficult than simple detection.

Fleas reproduce rapidly (one female can produce up to one egg per hour throughout her 4 week adult life).

Prevention Trim lawns and weeds to create a drier,

less-ideal environment for flea larvae. Avoid piles of sand and gravel around

the home for long periods of time. Screen or seal, chimneys, holes etc.

where rats, mice, squirrels, etc may use to enter buildings.

Only about 20 percent of the larvae might be removed when vacuuming since they wrap themselves around the bottom strands of carpeting.

Flea control

Flea control is a three part process:1. Treat the Pet 2. Treat the Home 3. Treat the Yard

Treat the Pet Removing fleas from pets may be done

by a veterinarian. A flea comb may be used, but is not

very effective for removing fleas; only 10-60% will be collected.

.Fleas should be dropped in soapy water and then discarded.

Shampooing your pet removes the dried blood and skin flakes that fall to the ground and serve as food for flea larvae

shampoos contain various insecticides

Pyrethrins are derived from the chrysanthemum plant and kill fleas on the animal quickly.

Pyrethroids are synthetically derived from pyrethrins and have better residual action.

Citrus peel derivatives, such as D-limonene, are also added to shampoos.

shampoos contain various insecticides

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) and insect development inhibitors (IDIs) work by interfering with egg development and molting of fleas. They control the flea life cycle but do not kill adult fleas.

Methoprene (Precor) and pyriproxyfen (Nylar, Archer) are IGRs available for pet treatment in sprays and flea collars.

shampoos contain various insecticides

Lufenuron (Program), an IDI, is orally administered to the pet.

Ultrasonic flea collars have also been proposed for use to keep fleas off pets, but are completely ineffective.

Insecticidal flea collars also are not very effective.

Treat the Home

Vacuum the entire house and dispose of the vacuum bag immediately there will be developing fleas inside! Vacuuming will remove flea eggs and stimulate new adults to emerge from their cocoons, exposing them to any insecticide residue on the floor.

Wash pet's bedding and throw rugs.

Treat the Home Sprays or foggers containing an

insecticide and insect growth regulator should be applied according to label directions after vacuuming.

Light traps placed around the home, especially where the pet frequents, may collect fleas upon emergence from their cocoons.

Adult fleas have been noted to orient themselves toward light and jump when light is interrupted .

Treat the Yard:

Loose debris and weeds should be removed and the lawn mowed to expose their environment

Sprays containing insecticides registered for outdoor use, such as pyrethroids, may be applied during dry seasons every 2-3 weeks to shaded areas where pets frequent.

Treat the Yard

Pyriproxyfen (Archer, Nylar) is the most effective outdoor treatment; it is very stable and provides protection against developing fleas for approximately 7 months.

Larvae prefer shaded dry areas, so spraying the entire yard is wasteful and irresponsible.

Sheds and dog houses should be treated the same as the house.

Biological Control

Using the beneficial nematode Steinernema carpocapsae has been investigated in several areas around the United States.

These nematodes are applied to the lawn as a spray and destroy the flea larvae (and other insects) by parasitizing them.

This treatment should reduce flea populations if label directions are carefully followed.

Flea Killers are Cat and dog Killers

All drugs, chemicals and poisons that kill fleas, kill animals as well...maybe a little slower...but they do kill.

Pyriproxyfen and ethanol, both teratogens, cause damage to the reproductive system, causing miscarriages, smaller offspring, birth defects, not only directly to your animals, but just touching your animal after use can cause reproductive.

Flea Killers are Cat and dog Killers

Carbitol is a neurotoxin meaning it can cause damage to the nervous system and it can cause serious organ damage to animal, to you and your family as well.

Permethrin, Is a broad spectrum insecticide, which in turn is an endocrine disrupter and a carcinogenic insecticide, causing lung cancer and liver tumors in laboratory animals.