What does a deer flea look like? - briefly
The deer flea is a tiny, laterally flattened, wingless insect about 1–2 mm long, dark brown to reddish‑black, with a smooth, hardened exoskeleton and elongated hind legs adapted for jumping. Its short antennae sit on a segmented body comprising head, thorax, and abdomen.
What does a deer flea look like? - in detail
The deer flea (Lipoptena cervi) is a small, wing‑less insect adapted for a parasitic lifestyle on cervids. Adults measure 2.5–4 mm in length, with a compact, flattened body that facilitates movement through the host’s fur. The dorsal surface is covered by a dense, silvery‑gray to light brown set of microscopic hairs, giving the flea a matte, almost powdery appearance. Legs are short, robust, and end in sharp claws that grip the hair shafts of the host.
Key morphological features include:
- Head: Small, reduced, lacking eyes and antennae; mouthparts form a piercing‑sucking proboscis for blood extraction.
- Thorax: Broad, with a pronounced pronotum that bears fine, scale‑like setae; the three pairs of legs emerge from this region.
- Abdomen: Segmented, slightly elongated, tapering toward the posterior; the ventral side shows a lighter coloration than the dorsal side.
The flea’s coloration provides camouflage against the host’s coat, while the absence of wings distinguishes it from most other flea families. After locating a suitable host, the adult sheds its wings and remains permanently attached, completing its life cycle entirely on the animal.