- Adults small, wingless, about 2.5 mm long.
- Their bodies are shiny and reddish brown in color.
- Covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur.
Adults are parasites that draw blood from a host. Larvae feed on organic debris, particularly the feces of adult fleas, which contain undigested blood. Fleas commonly prefer to feed on hairy animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice and other domesticated or wild animals. Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances.