Who do fleas attack? - briefly
Fleas bite mammals, most commonly dogs, cats, and humans, to obtain blood. They also infest rodents, rabbits, and other small animals.
Who do fleas attack? - in detail
Fleas primarily parasitize warm‑blooded vertebrates. Their feeding activity is directed toward mammals and birds, with occasional occurrences on reptiles and amphibians. The selection of a host depends on species‑specific adaptations, environmental conditions, and availability of suitable blood meals.
Mammalian hosts include:
- Domestic dogs and cats, which support the life cycles of Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis.
- Humans, occasionally infested by the human flea (Pulex irritans).
- Rodents such as rats and mice, common carriers of the Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis).
- Wild mammals, including squirrels, foxes, and deer, which host various flea species adapted to forested habitats.
Avian hosts are targeted mainly by specialized flea groups:
- Passerine birds, where feather‑dwelling fleas feed on blood and skin secretions.
- Ground‑nesting birds, which provide a stable microclimate for flea development.
Reptilian and amphibian hosts are less common but documented:
- Certain flea species infest lizards and snakes in tropical regions.
- Amphibians may host flea larvae that exploit moist environments for development.
Flea attachment is facilitated by laterally compressed bodies, enabling movement through fur or feathers. Mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and extracting blood, a process that can transmit bacterial pathogens such as Yersinia pestis in rodent‑associated fleas. Larval stages develop in the host’s nest or bedding, feeding on organic debris, adult flea feces, and occasionally blood.
Understanding host preferences aids in controlling infestations, as targeted treatment of animals and their environments reduces flea populations and limits disease transmission.