Dog Flea vs Mole Flea

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Dog Flea	Mole Flea
Scientific Name	Ctenocephalides canis	Hystrichopsylla talpae
Order	Siphonaptera	Siphonaptera
Family	Pulicidae	Hystrichopsyllidae
Size	2-3.5 mm	4-6 mm
Habitat	Underground	Caves
Diet	Blood Feeders	Blood Feeders
Regions	Europe, Asia, Africa, North America	Europe
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Dog Flea

A flea historically associated with domestic dogs but actually less common on dogs than the cat flea. Distinguished by its more rounded head profile.

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Despite being called the dog flea, this species is often outnumbered on dogs by cat fleas at a ratio of ten to one.

The largest European flea, found on moles and other burrowing mammals.

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At six millimeters it is easily visible to the naked eye unlike most flea species.