How do sea fleas bite? - briefly
«Sea fleas», marine copepods, bite by thrusting sharp mandibles into the host’s skin and injecting saliva that contains anticoagulant compounds to enable blood feeding. The action produces a small, often itchy wound on the affected animal.
How do sea fleas bite? - in detail
Sea fleas, also known as marine copepods of the genus Calanus, deliver bites through a specialized set of mouthparts called mandibles and maxillae. These structures are hardened with chitin, allowing the animal to pierce the soft tissue of its host. When a flea contacts a potential victim, sensory setae on its antennae trigger a rapid extension of the mandibles, which cut through the epidermis and create a narrow wound. Salivary glands then inject a cocktail of enzymes and anticoagulants that facilitate blood flow and prevent clotting.
The bite process proceeds in three distinct phases:
- Detection and attachment – mechanoreceptors sense movement; suction cups on the thoracic legs secure the flea to the host’s surface.
- Penetration – mandibles open at high speed, driven by muscular contraction, and slice a channel approximately 0.1 mm wide.
- Injection – the salivary duct releases proteolytic enzymes that break down tissue proteins, while anticoagulant peptides keep the wound open for feeding.
After feeding, the flea retracts its mouthparts and detaches, leaving a small puncture that may cause mild irritation. The entire sequence lasts less than a second, reflecting the flea’s adaptation to fleeting contact with passing marine organisms.