What does a dog flea look like? - briefly
A dog flea is a tiny, wingless insect about 1–3 mm long, flattened side‑to‑side, with a dark brown, laterally compressed body and powerful hind legs for jumping. Its head is small, eyes are absent, and its abdomen bears comb‑like spines.
What does a dog flea look like? - in detail
A dog flea is a small, laterally flattened insect measuring 1 – 3 mm in length. Its body is smooth, dark brown to reddish‑black, and lacks noticeable segmentation to the naked eye. The abdomen expands after feeding, appearing engorged and more oval.
The head bears short, stout antennae with 5‑6 segments, each tipped with a sensory club. Mouthparts form a piercing‑sucking stylet capable of penetrating skin. Six legs are attached to the thorax; the hind pair are enlarged, equipped with a powerful spring mechanism that enables jumps of up to 150 times its body length. Each leg ends in a claw that grasps hair shafts.
Key morphological traits include:
- Lateral compression, giving a “coin‑shaped” silhouette.
- Transparent, membranous wings absent; locomotion relies entirely on jumping.
- Bristles (setae) covering the body, providing sensory feedback.
- A hardened exoskeleton (sclerotized cuticle) that resists desiccation.
Developmental stages differ in appearance:
- Eggs: oval, 0.5 mm, white, deposited on the host’s skin or surrounding environment.
- Larvae: 2 – 4 mm, worm‑like, pale, lacking legs, with a dark head capsule and long bristles.
- Pupae: encased in a silk cocoon, dark brown, immobile until emergence.
- Adults: as described above, fully wingless, capable of rapid movement and blood feeding.
These characteristics enable identification of the parasite on dogs and other mammals.