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[Ctenocephalides canis] [Ctenocephalides felis] [Pulex irritans] [Xenopsylla cheopis]

Ctenocephalides canis and C. felis are the dog and cat flea, respectively.  Members of this genus are 3-4 mm in length, laterally-compressed and reddish-brown to black in color.  The two species can be separated by the characteristics of the head and setae on the hind legs:  C. canis has a head that is strongly-rounded anteriorly, and have hind tibiae with eight setae bearing notches; C. felis has a more-elongate head and hind tibiae with six setae bearing notches.  Both species possess pronotal and genal combs (ctenidia).  Ctenocephalides spp. are of medical importance as vectors of rickettsial diseases, including Rickettsia typhi, and may serve as intermediate hosts for tapeworms, including Hymenolepis and Dipylidium.

A	B

A, B: The cat flea, C. felis.  Images courtesy of Parasite and Diseases Image Library, Australia (http://www.padil.gov.au/).

C

C: The dog flea, C. canis.  Image courtesy of Parasite and Diseases Image Library, Australia (http://www.padil.gov.au/).