| Dog flea | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Siphonaptera |
| Family: | Pulicidae |
| Genus: | Ctenocephalides |
| Species: | C. canis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis, 1826)
| |
The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is a species of flea that lives as an ectoparasite on a wide variety of mammals, particularly the domestic dog and cat. It closely resembles the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, which can live on a wider range of animals and is generally more prevalent worldwide.[1]
The dog flea is troublesome because it can spread Dipylidium caninum.
Although they feed on the blood of dogs and cats, they sometimes bite humans. They can live without food for several months, but females must have a blood meal before they can produce eggs. They can deliver about 4000 eggs on the host's fur.[2] The eggs go through four lifecycle stages: embryo, larva, pupa, and imago (adult). This whole life cycle from egg to adult takes from two to three weeks, although this depends on the temperature. It may take longer in cool conditions.[3]
- ^ Pedro Marcos Linardi and Juliana Lúcia Costa Santos (October–December 2012). "Ctenocephalides felis felis vs. Ctenocephalides canis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae): some issues in correctly identifying these species". Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária. 21 (4): 345–354. doi:10.1590/S1984-29612012000400002. PMID 23295817.
- ^ "Dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis)". Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
- ^ "Order Siphonaptera - Fleas". Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-30.