How do fleas bite animals? - briefly
Fleas attach to the host with their hind legs, then pierce the skin using a needle‑like proboscis, inject saliva containing anticoagulants, and draw blood through the wound. This rapid, painless feeding can occur repeatedly, allowing the insect to consume multiple meals within a short period.
How do fleas bite animals? - in detail
Fleas attach to a host by sensing heat, carbon‑dioxide, and movement. Once positioned, the insect uses its specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin. The head bears a pair of slender, serrated stylets that interlock to form a channel. The outer stylet, called the maxilla, cuts through the epidermis, while the inner mandible guides the feeding tube toward a blood vessel.
Saliva is injected through the feeding tube before blood ingestion. It contains anticoagulant proteins that prevent clotting and enzymes that suppress the host’s immediate immune response, allowing continuous blood flow. The flea then draws blood up the tube by rhythmic contractions of its cibarial pump, a muscular structure in the head.
The bite site typically appears as a small, red papule that may develop into a raised, itchy nodule. Fleas often bite near the base of the tail, abdomen, or neck, where hair is thin and blood vessels are close to the surface.
Key stages of the feeding process:
- Detection of host cues (heat, CO₂, vibrations).
- Jump onto the animal and locate a suitable skin area.
- Penetration of epidermis using serrated stylets.
- Injection of saliva with anticoagulants and anti‑inflammatory agents.
- Suction of blood via the cibarial pump.
- Withdrawal of mouthparts after engorgement, leaving the puncture wound.
Repeated feeding can cause anemia, skin irritation, and transmit pathogens such as Bartonella or Yersinia pestis. Control measures focus on interrupting the flea’s life cycle, reducing environmental reservoirs, and applying topical or systemic insecticides to the host.