Facts

                     Scientific Facts About Fleas in Central Alabama Homes

• Dominant Species: The cat flea is the most common in Central Alabama, infesting cats, dogs, and occasionally humans, while dog fleas and human fleas are less frequent, and Oriental rat fleas appear with rodent hosts.
• Anatomy: Fleas are wingless, 1/16–1/8 inch long, with laterally flattened bodies, strong hind legs for jumping, and piercing mouthparts for blood-feeding.
• Jumping Ability: Cat fleas can leap up to 13 inches (33 cm) horizontally, about 200 times their body length, due to resilin, a spring-like protein in their legs.
• Life Cycle: Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult), completing a cycle in 2–8 weeks depending on temperature (75–85°F) and humidity (50%+), ideal in Alabama’s climate.
• Host Preference: Cat and dog fleas prefer pets but bite humans when hosts are scarce; human fleas target mammals broadly, and rat fleas favor rodents but can bite humans.
• Disease Transmission: Oriental rat fleas can transmit murine typhus and, historically, plague, though rare in Alabama; cat fleas may carry Bartonella (cat scratch disease).
• Survival: Adult fleas live 2–3 months on hosts but can survive weeks without feeding; pupae in cocoons can remain dormant for months, emerging when vibrations signal a host.
• Environmental Tolerance: Fleas thrive in Central Alabama’s humid, warm conditions, with larvae requiring shaded, moist areas like lawns or pet bedding to avoid desiccation.
• Sensory Detection: Fleas sense hosts via heat, carbon dioxide, and vibrations, using setae (hairs) and antennae to locate blood meals.
• Blood Feeding: Fleas consume up to 15 times their body weight in blood daily, causing irritation and potential allergic dermatitis in pets and humans.

• Flea Circuses: In the 19th century, “flea circuses” featured cat fleas “performing” tricks, like pulling tiny carts, due to their strength and jumping prowess.
• Historical Blame: Human and rat fleas were infamous for spreading the Black Death in the 14th century, though modern sanitation limits such risks in Alabama.
• Olympic Jumpers: If humans had cat flea jumping ability, we could leap over skyscrapers, as their jump height rivals 100 feet relative to their size.
• Sneaky Hitchhikers: Fleas often enter homes on pets after a romp in the yard or via humans tracking eggs on shoes from places like dog parks.
• Itchy Legacy: Flea bites cause red, itchy welts, and some people develop flea allergy dermatitis, making them a top pet and homeowner annoyance.
• Cocoon Camouflage: Flea pupae in cocoons are sticky, collecting dust and debris, making them nearly invisible in carpets until adults emerge.
• Myth Busting: Fleas don’t live on humans like head lice; they bite and retreat to pets or hiding spots, making pet treatment key to control.
• Seasonal Surge: In Alabama’s warm climate, fleas peak in spring and summer but persist year-round indoors, especially in heated homes.