What do household fleas look like? - briefly
Household fleas are tiny, dark reddish‑brown insects measuring roughly 1.5–3 mm, with a flat, laterally compressed body and powerful hind legs that enable rapid jumps. They lack wings and have a hard exoskeleton that gives them a shiny appearance.
What do household fleas look like? - in detail
Household fleas are tiny, laterally flattened insects measuring 1.5–3 mm in length. Their bodies are segmented into three regions—head, thorax, and abdomen—each covered with a hard, chitinous exoskeleton that gives a dark brown to reddish‑black coloration. The head bears large, compound eyes and short antennae that are difficult to see without magnification. Mouthparts form a piercing‑sucking stylet, adapted for feeding on blood.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Body shape: Oval, compact, and compressed from side to side, enabling movement through animal fur and fabric fibers.
- Legs: Six long, powerful legs ending in tiny claws; the hind legs are especially robust, allowing the flea to jump up to 150 times its body length.
- Wings: Absent; the insect is wingless throughout its life cycle.
- Surface texture: Slightly rough, with microscopic spines (setae) that give a dull sheen rather than a glossy finish.
- Color variation: Typically dark brown, but may appear reddish after a recent blood meal, gradually darkening as the blood is digested.
Larvae differ markedly: they are slender, worm‑like, lack legs, and display a creamy white or pale yellow coloration, covered with fine hairs. Their bodies are soft, lacking the hardened exoskeleton of adults, and they construct protective silk cocoons within the environment. The contrast between adult and larval forms assists in accurate identification during inspections.