February 1st, 2009 | Leave a comment below
The Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
Categories: Observations and pictures | Tags: insect
_under_the_microscope&caption=The_Dog_Flea_(Ctenocephalides_canis)_is_an_external_parasite_which_can_be_found_in_the_fur_of_both_dogs_and_cats.)
The Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is an external parasite which can be found in the fur of both dogs and cats.
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A portait image of the flea.
Image Information: The presented image is composed of several different overlapping images stitched together. Stacking to increase the depth of field was not performed.
Background Information: The adult female flea reaches a size between 2 and 4mm. Males are a little smaller, 2-3mm. They are wingless insects with a flattened body. Their chitin exoskeleton is resistant to pressure. Both sexes feed on the host’s blood. The fleas produce eggs out of which the larvae hatch. The larvae are between 1-6mm long (depending on the stage of the life cycle), and do not possess legs.
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