Fleas and Ticks

Fleas    Ticks

Fleas and ticks are the most important external parasites of pets, livestock and humans.  Both fleas and ticks are very abundant, have irritating bites and are capable of transmitting disease.

Fleas are capable of transmitting tapeworms.  Ticks are capable of transmitting Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and relapsing fever.  Lyme disease is transmitted in the United States by the deer tick, black legged, Gulf coast, American dog, lone star and relapsing fever tick.  Lone star and American dog tick can cause tick paralysis.

Cat Flea, Ctenocephalides felis

The cat flea is the most important flea species in the United States, attacking cats and dogs.  Adult cat fleas are 1/16 inch long and are usually found on their host.  The flea inserts its mouthparts in the skin, injects saliva and sucks blood.  The bite leaves a red spot on the skin.  The saliva is irritating to the host, causing dermatitis and hair loss in allergic animals, effecting dogs, cats and people.  Life cycle:
flea eggs, flea larvae, flea pupae (cocoons,) adult fleas.  The immature stages, adult and flea feces are important to know when eliminating flea infestations and in flea prevention programs.
Adult female fleas lay white, shiny eggs on their host.  The eggs are not glued to the host (as are the eggs of other parasites such as head lice) so they fall off immediately into bedding and other areas.  Adult flea feces (often confused with flea eggs, to the uninitiated) are also found in areas their hosts frequent.  Female fleas can produce 24 or more eggs per day and can produce 350 eggs in her lifetime.  These flea eggs hatch in 12 to 48 hours, depending on temperature and humidity.
Flea larvae go through 3 stages (or instars) in a 10 to 14 day period.  These larvae are about a quarter of an inch long.  Larvae prefer to feed on adult flea feces.  They are mainly found in pet resting areas, both outdoors and inside homes, kennels and other structures.
Flea larvae pupate within silken cocoon and change into the adult stage.  Debris is incorporated into the cocoon, making them difficult to find.  Debris materials usually include hair from the host animal and (in indoor populations) fibers from carpets and furniture.  The flea pupae is perfectly hidden by the materials from which it is made.  Fleas can remain in the pupal stage for six to twelve months.  In this stage, fleas are protected from insecticides and resist chemical treatments.

Ticks:

American dog tick, Dermacentor variabillis

The American dog tick is one of the most prevalent tick pests in the eastern United States.  Adults are about a quarter of an inch long; its shield has variable white markings.  The larvae and nymphs prefer to feed on mice, whereas adults prefers dogs and other large animals.

Brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus

This tick is one of the most common pests of dogs.  Adults are 3/16 inch long and are uniformly reddish-brown in color.  All stages prefer to feed on dogs.  This tick is prevalent in houses and kennels.

Gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum

The Gulf coast tick is very prevalent in the southeastern United States.  The sexes are very different in appearance.  The immature stages feed on ground-dwelling birds.  Adults primarily attach to the ears of large animals like deer and cattle.

Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum

This is one of the most common ticks on humans and has prevented the development of some areas.  The female lone star tick has a silvery spot on her dorsal shield.  Its long mouthparts allow deep penetration of the skin, often causing sores containing pus.

Black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis

This tick is widespread in the southeastern United States and is often found along trails, paths and roadways.  Adult black legged ticks are a dark reddish-brown color with dark brown to black legs.

Relapsing fever tick, Ornithodorus turicata

The relapsing fever tick is a soft tick and does not have its mouthparts visible from above.  The relapsing fever tick mainly attacks rodents and consequently is associated with rat and mouse habitats.  This tick is capable of transmitting tick-borne relapsing fever.

Flea Elimination    Tick Elimination

Fleas    Ticks