This document describes the flea Pulex irritans L. It discusses the flea's life cycle including eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult stages. Key details provided include that eggs are whitish and ovoid, larvae are slender and whitish with pale brown heads and segmented bodies, and pupae form small oval cocoons. Adults are hard-skinned, spiny, and thin with large jumping legs. The document also notes that fleas can transmit plague and typhus between rats and humans, and recommends cleaning with vacuums and steam to control fleas along with controlling rodent populations.

1. Presented to:
Dr. Aqeel Anjum
Presented by:
Muhammad Kamran Sial
Roll number:
M076
University Of Sargodha Pakistan

2. Scientific name: Pulex irritans L
Family: Pulicidae
Order: Syphonaptera

3.  Eggs: Eggs are whitish short ovoid
1/50 inches long
 Larvae:
 Slender whitish about 1/6 to ¼ inch long
with small
 pale brown head without legs or eyes.
 Body plainly segments
 Covered with scattered very long hair.
 Mouthparts are chewing type.

4. Pupae:
 Very small,
 Oval and white silken cocoon to which
 Adhere particles of dust and trash are attached
 Gives dirty appearance.
Adult:
 Hard skinned
 Very spiny
 Extraordinary thin from side
 Piercing sucking mouthparts
 Concealed antennae
 No wings
 Very large legs for jumping
 Their only food is blood

5.  Insect overwinters in the form of pupae.
 Flea generation completed in 2-3 weeks to 2-3
months or even in 2 years.

6.  They bite the human which is not felt
immediately but increases
irritation and sore for several days.
 Flea spread plague from rat to man.
 Flea is an important vector of plague.
 Flea transmits the infection by regurgitation
during feeding on blood.
 Flea also a vector of endemic typhus from
rat to man.

7.  You should use the vacuum cleaner to clean
your house and its cushions.
 Use the steam cleaning process to get rid of
fleas.
 Destruction of rats and other rodents.
 Cats can be encouraged so that rats cannot
find the place for their multiplication.
 Wire cages can also be used to avoid the
rats.
 Use zinc phosphide pellets in the house to
avoid tee rats.