What does a flea on cattle look like? - briefly
The cattle flea is a tiny, laterally flattened insect about 1–2 mm long, reddish‑brown to dark brown, with long hind legs adapted for jumping. It lacks wings and appears as a moving speck on the animal’s hide.
What does a flea on cattle look like? - in detail
A cattle flea (Ctenocephalides spp.) measures approximately 1.5–3 mm in length, roughly the size of a grain of rice. The adult insect exhibits a laterally compressed, oval body that facilitates movement through the host’s dense hair. The dorsal surface is dark brown to black, while the ventral side is lighter, often appearing reddish‑brown. Six prominent bristles (genal and pronotal) project from the head region, giving the flea a spiny silhouette.
The head is small, equipped with powerful mandibles designed to pierce the skin and ingest blood. Compound eyes are reduced, reflecting a reliance on tactile and chemical cues rather than vision. Antennae consist of a short basal segment and a flexible flagellum, enabling detection of host odors and vibrations.
Legs are adapted for jumping: each of the three pairs ends in a claw that grips hair shafts, and the femora contain enlarged muscle fibers that store elastic energy for rapid propulsion. Hind legs are longer than the forelegs, providing the flea with its characteristic leap of up to 150 mm.
The abdomen contains a flexible, expandable membrane that accommodates a blood meal up to three times the flea’s body weight. After feeding, the abdomen swells and appears distended, often visible through the animal’s coat.
Typical locations on the bovine host include the dewlap, under the tail, around the udder, and in the perineal region. These areas offer warm, moist microenvironments and a thin hair coat, facilitating attachment and feeding.
Life‑cycle stages observable on the animal:
- Eggs: pale, oval, ~0.5 mm, deposited on the hair surface; not readily seen without close inspection.
- Larvae: soft, whitish, C‑shaped, hidden in the environment (bedding, soil) rather than on the host.
- Pupae: encased in silken cocoons within the surroundings; invisible on the animal.
- Adults: the only stage present on cattle, identifiable by the described morphology.
Key distinguishing features from other ectoparasites:
- Absence of wings or elongated antennae.
- Presence of a comb‑like row of spines on the pronotum (genal and pronotal combs) unique to flea species.
- Ability to leap several centimeters, unlike ticks, which crawl.
In summary, a flea on bovine hosts is a tiny, flattened, dark beetle‑like insect with a spiny head, powerful jumping legs, and an expandable abdomen that visibly swells after blood ingestion. Its preferred habitats on the animal are warm, hair‑sparse regions where it can feed and reproduce.