How does a female flea differ from a male flea? - briefly
Female fleas are larger, with a rounded abdomen that expands after a blood meal and an ovipositor for laying eggs; males are smaller, have a tapered abdomen, and lack egg‑laying structures. The two sexes can be distinguished primarily by size, abdominal shape, and reproductive anatomy.
How does a female flea differ from a male flea? - in detail
Female fleas are larger than males, with a more expanded abdomen that accommodates developing eggs. The abdomen of the female can increase up to twice the width of the male’s, reflecting the space needed for oviposition. Internally, females possess an ovary‑testis complex, a spermatheca for storing sperm, and an ovipositor that deposits eggs into the host’s environment. A single female can lay several hundred eggs per batch and up to several thousand over her lifespan.
Male fleas have a narrower abdomen and lack reproductive organs for egg production. Their genital segment includes a pair of testes, an ejaculatory duct, and a copulatory organ, but no spermatheca. The male’s genital plate is sclerotized and visible on the ventral surface of the abdomen. Morphologically, the male’s head and thorax are more compact, and the hind legs are proportionally longer, aiding in rapid movement during mating pursuits.
Both sexes feed on blood, yet females require larger blood meals to support egg development. After emerging from the pupal stage, a female typically seeks a host within 24 hours to begin feeding and subsequent oviposition. Males may feed less frequently and often remain near the host’s fur, waiting for receptive females.
Key distinguishing characteristics:
- Size: Females 2–3 mm long; males 1.5–2 mm.
- Abdomen shape: Rounded and distended in females; slender in males.
- Reproductive structures: Ovary, spermatheca, and ovipositor present only in females; testes and copulatory organ present only in males.
- Egg production: Females lay 100–200 eggs per batch; males produce no eggs.
- Behavioral role: Females initiate blood meals for egg maturation; males primarily seek mates.
These anatomical and physiological differences define the separate roles of each sex within the flea population.