What does a flea look like in pictures? - briefly
In photographs, a flea appears as a tiny, dark, oval‑shaped insect about 1–3 mm long, with a laterally flattened body, long hind legs, and a spiny head. Its legs are prominently visible, giving it a characteristic jumping posture.
What does a flea look like in pictures? - in detail
Flea imagery consistently highlights an exceptionally small, laterally compressed body, typically ranging from 1.5 mm to 4 mm in length. The silhouette appears narrow and elongated, resembling a tiny, flattened cigar. Coloration varies from reddish‑brown to dark brown, often with a glossy sheen that reflects light in macro photographs.
Visible anatomical features include:
- A rounded, anterior head bearing short, bristle‑like antennae that curve backward.
- Prominent, large compound eyes positioned laterally on the head capsule.
- A thorax bearing three pairs of legs; the hind pair is markedly enlarged, with femora adapted for powerful jumps. These legs end in spiny tibiae and tarsal claws.
- A set of comb‑like structures on the head (genal comb) and the pronotum (pronotal comb), appearing as evenly spaced, fine spines.
- A segmented abdomen composed of several visible tergites, each displaying a smooth, slightly domed surface.
Macro photography often captures the flea’s exoskeleton texture, revealing a fine, waxy cuticle that reduces friction during movement. The cuticle may display microscopic hairs (setae) that create a subtle, mottled pattern under high magnification.
Illustrations and microscope slides typically emphasize contrast between the dark body and the lighter, translucent membranes of the legs and antennae, allowing easy identification of the jumping apparatus and comb structures. In all visual representations, the combination of size, flattened shape, jumping legs, and combs serves as the primary diagnostic signature of this ectoparasite.