What are fleas called? - briefly
Fleas are wingless, blood‑sucking insects belonging to the order Siphonaptera. They are ectoparasites that infest mammals and birds.
What are fleas called? - in detail
Fleas belong to the order Siphonaptera, a group of small, wing‑less insects that are obligate ectoparasites of mammals and birds. The term “flea” refers collectively to more than 2,500 described species distributed among several families, the most prominent being Pulicidae, Ceratophyllidae, and Ischnopsyllidae.
The most widely recognized species, the human flea, carries the scientific name Pulex irritans. Other common representatives include the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis), and the rodent flea (Xenopsylla cheopis), known for its role in transmitting plague bacteria.
Key characteristics of Siphonaptera:
- Body length typically 1–4 mm; laterally compressed shape facilitates movement through host fur.
- Mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood; saliva contains anticoagulants.
- Life cycle comprises egg, four larval instars, pupal cocoon, and adult; development may span days to months depending on temperature and host availability.
- Reproductive capacity high; a single female can lay 20–50 eggs per day, totaling up to several thousand over her lifespan.
Taxonomic hierarchy for the human flea:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Siphonaptera
- Family: Pulicidae
- Genus: Pulex
- Species: P. irritans
In scientific literature, the collective group is consistently referred to as “siphonapterans” or simply “fleas,” while individual species are identified by their binomial nomenclature. This naming convention distinguishes them from other hematophagous insects such as mosquitoes (Culicidae) and lice (Phthiraptera).