6 FARMERS BULLETIN 891 



It is common knowledge that fleas occur in greatest abundance in 

 sandy regions. This is explained by the fact that sand maintains 

 moisture more uniformly, and thus permits the immature stages of 

 the flea to develop with greater success. The sand also offers some 

 protection to the adults and renders heavy rains less destructive to 

 all stages of the flea present on the soil. 



FLEAS AS PESTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD. 



As has been pointed out,^ in the eastern part of the United States 

 the dog flea is the species of greatest importance as a household pest. 

 Many instances have been brought to the attention of the Bureau of 



Entomology in which houses, par- 

 ticularly those vacated for some 

 time during the summer months, 

 have been found to be literally 

 overrun by the pests. 



In portions of the South and 

 West the human flea (title-page 

 illustration and fig. 3) is the one 

 primarily responsible for house 

 infestations. Although the host 

 relationship of these two species 

 is somewhat different, the same 

 methods of control are applicable, 

 for the most part, to both. Wlien 

 comparatively small numbers of 

 fleas are found on people in 

 houses, breeding places should be 

 sought out of doors in sheds or bams frequented by dogs and cats, 

 especially if the house is kept clean and animals do not frequent it. 

 The conditions which give rise to severe outbreaks in houses, par- 

 ticularly in the case of the dog or cat fleas, are usually these: Pet 

 dogs or cats are kept about the household during the spring and early 

 summer, and great numbers of eggs are deposited upon them by the 

 fleas. These eggs are scattered about the floors and soon hatch into 

 minute maggots which feed upon the vegetable and animal matter 

 under carpets and mattings and in cracks. During this time the 

 house has been closed up and the breeding allowed to proceed un- 

 checked, so that at about the time the occupants return the fleas have 

 reached the adult stage. In the absence of other hosts they are ex- 

 ceedingly hungry and ready to attack man or any animals which are 

 accessible. 



Fic. 3. — The human flea : Adult male. 

 Greatly enlarged. Note the difference in 

 the shape of the abdomen of the male Jis 

 compared with that of the female (title- 

 page). 



1 Howard, L. O. 

 1909. 



House Fleas. T'. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Ent. Cir. 108, 4 p., 2 figs., Feb 11, 



