The Natural Pet Gazette

The Natural Pet Gazette

Text Box: Special points of interest: Flea Control Insight Safety & Pet Food Beneficial Nematodes Adoption News

All About Beneficial Nematodes	2
St Francis Animal Sanctuary	2
In Memoriam	2
St Tammany Animal Rescue Team (START)	3
Welcome To The Natural Pet Gazette!	4

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Text Box: While I try to keep a non-confrontational world view, when it comes to fleas and their control the adage “Know thy enemy” rings especially true. The better one understands the lifecycle of the common flea species on our pets, the easier, the more effective, and the safer (for the pet and for the environment) our flea control programs become. To that end, the following is a primer on the life cycle of Ctenocephalides felis, the common cat flea (despite the name, this is the major flea species of the 20-plus species found on our dog and cat pets in Louisiana), given with acknowledgement to Dr. Michael Dryden of Kansas State University, who was among the first to study and write about

Text Box: the life cycle of this particular parasite. Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea (hereafter referred to just as “flea”) is an obligate parasite who undergoes a complete metamorphic lifecycle. Once this is understood, flea control becomes more directed at the vulnerable stages of flea development and less of a “shot gun” approach, which typically includes the non-discriminate use of environmental insecticides. The flea’s lifecycle includes four stages – egg, larva, pupa, and adult. If we begin our study at the adult stage, we find this scenario. The adult flea is an obligate parasite, living out its days on the host. The only reason the adult flea leaves its host is if it

Text Box: is mechanically removed (scratched off), or if another host is in close enough proximity for the flea to jump from host to host (dogs or cats sleeping together, for example). The adult flea feeds on the blood of the host, defecates partially-

Cont’d Page 3—Fleas

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