What do hair‑eating fleas look like? - briefly
Hair‑eating fleas are tiny, 1–2 mm dark brown insects with a laterally flattened body, long hind legs, and strong claws adapted for grasping hair shafts. Their heads are small, bearing short antennae and piercing mouthparts specialized for feeding on keratin.
What do hair‑eating fleas look like? - in detail
Hair‑eating fleas are minute, wingless insects belonging to the order Siphonaptera. Adult specimens measure approximately 0.5–1.5 mm in length, with a laterally compressed body that facilitates movement through dense fur. Their exoskeleton is a hardened, chitinous shell, typically dark brown to black, providing camouflage against the host’s hair.
Key morphological traits include:
- Head: Small, rounded, equipped with robust mandibles adapted for chewing keratin. Compound eyes are reduced or absent, reflecting a life spent in darkness.
- Antennae: Short, segmented, located near the mouthparts; sensory setae detect vibrations and chemical cues.
- Legs: Six short legs ending in clawed tarsi, allowing the flea to grasp individual hair shafts securely.
- Abdomen: Elongated, flexible, containing a digestive tract capable of processing hair fragments and associated debris.
During the larval stage, fleas appear as slender, white grubs measuring 2–5 mm. Larvae lack legs, possess a well‑developed head capsule, and hide in the host’s nest or bedding, feeding on detritus and shed hair. Pupation occurs within a silk cocoon, producing a brown, oval pupa that remains dormant until stimulated by temperature, carbon dioxide, or host vibrations.
Live specimens exhibit rapid, erratic jumps facilitated by a powerful thoracic musculature and a resilient resilin pad. This jumping mechanism enables quick transitions between hair strands and occasional escape from grooming attempts.
Overall, hair‑consuming fleas present a compact, dark, highly adapted body plan optimized for navigating and feeding within dense fur environments. Their microscopic size and specialized mouthparts distinguish them from typical blood‑sucking fleas.