How do flea droppings look? - briefly
Flea feces are minute, dark specks similar to black pepper or fine sand, usually visible on pet bedding, carpets, or upholstery. They measure about 0.1–0.2 mm and may appear mixed with reddish stains after the insect feeds.
How do flea droppings look? - in detail
Flea excrement appears as tiny, dark specks that closely resemble ground‑coffee grounds. Individual pellets measure approximately 0.2–0.3 mm in length, are roughly cylindrical, and possess a slightly tapered end. The color ranges from deep black to very dark brown, becoming lighter as the material ages or dries.
Key visual traits include:
- Size: 0.2–0.3 mm long, 0.1 mm wide.
- Shape: Short, blunt cylinders with a rounded tip.
- Color: Fresh deposits are jet‑black; older stains fade to brown or gray.
- Texture: Dry, crumbly, and easily dislodged; when moist, they become a soft, glossy mass that may smear.
- Location: Commonly found along the edges of pet bedding, in carpet fibers, on upholstery seams, and in cracks near baseboards.
Under magnification (10–40×), each pellet reveals a compact core of digested blood surrounded by a thin, translucent outer layer. The core contains hemoglobin residues, which account for the intense darkness. When a flea feeds on a pet with blood‑tinged fur, the excrement may contain faint red speckles, indicating recent meals.
Differentiation from other insect droppings:
- Bed‑bug feces: Larger (0.5–1 mm), irregularly shaped, often with a reddish hue.
- Carpet beetle frass: Fine, white or pale, composed of shed hairs rather than dark pellets.
Detection methods rely on visual inspection of the described specks, supplemented by a black‑light examination that causes fresh flea feces to fluoresce faintly, aiding identification in low‑light conditions.