蚤, 香港普遍存在於貓; 狗; 老鼠身上, 當飢餓時會吸食人血.
蚤是黑死病傳播的媒介, 無翅, 體兩側扁平, 成蟲在溫血動物的體外寄生; 無眼, 但具兩細眼點, 其口器為適應穿剌和吸吮寄主血液之用, 其後肢變異用以跳躍, 幼蟲長形, 白色無足和自由生活.
Fleas are one of the most
important groups of insect pest because they not only cause discomfort
by biting, but they can transmit several diseases such as plague and
murine tyhus.
Females lay 4-8 eggs after each
blood meal, laying some 400-500 during their lifetime. Eggs are oval,
whitish, and about 0.65 mm long and usually hatch in 1-12 days. Larvae
require high relative humidity and 1-2 weeks to several months to go
through 3 instars. Under favourable conditions, the pupal stage may
last 4-14 days or up to a year under harsh conditions. The pre-emerged
adult remains in the cocoon for up to 20 weeks, where it is protected
from adverse conditions, including pesticides.
