Notch-horned Cleg vs Human Flea

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Notch-horned Cleg	Human Flea
Scientific Name	Haematopota pluvialis	Pulex irritans
Order	Diptera	Siphonaptera
Family	Tabanidae	Pulicidae
Size	8-12 mm	1.5-4 mm
Habitat	Hedgerows	Underground
Diet	Blood Feeders	Blood Feeders
Regions	Europe, Western Asia	Worldwide
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Notch-horned Cleg

A grey horse fly with mottled wings that approaches silently before biting. It is one of the most common biting flies in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most horse flies, the cleg approaches completely silently, landing and biting before being noticed.

Human Flea

Once common in human homes, now relatively rare in developed countries. Historically responsible for transmitting bubonic plague. Can jump 33 cm vertically.

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Did You Know?

Human fleas were major plague vectors — the Black Death that killed 75-200 million people in the 14th century was largely spread by fleas on rats entering human homes.