Large-scale Monitoring of Insecticide Susceptibility in Cat Fleas, Ctenocephalides felis
Introduction
Figure 1. Adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis © Bayer Animal Health
The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) (Figure 1) is the most important ectoparasite of domestic cats and dogs worldwide. Infestations can lead to skin inflammation and cause flea allergy dermatitis, and fleas are also capable of transmitting several other parasites and diseases between animals and, indirectly, to humans.
Fleas have a homometabolous life-cycle consisting of egg, larval, pupal and adult life-stages. The life-cycle takes between 18 and 70 days depending largely on climatic conditions . Eggs are laid in an animal’s pelage and usually fall off the host prior to hatching. Eggs hatch after 2–3 days at room temperature and the larvae inhabit carpets, animal bedding, or small crevices in the household environment, feeding primarily on faecal blood droplets produced by adult fleas. The egg and larval stages are extremely susceptible to desiccation and require a relative humidity greater than 50% for development. After three moults, the larva spins a cocoon and metamorphoses into an adult. Adult fleas can remain in cocoons for weeks until host-related cues such as vibrations or an increase in CO2 concentration stimulates emergence. Once emerged, adults will die within 10 days if they do not successfully find a host.
This is an extract of the full article published in: Outlooks on Pest Management – June 2015 issue.
The full text of this article is available to subscribers of Outlooks on Pest Management.
Non-subcribers may buy & download full text article.
Authors: Ian Denholm, Michael Rust, Byron Blagburn, Steven Kopp, Martin Williamson, Kathrin Tetzner, Claudia Boehm, Norbert Mencke, Bob Rees & Liisa Ahlstrom – summarise a survey of insecticide resistance in cat fleas
Category: Animal Health
