Sand Martin Flea vs Cat Flea

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sand Martin Flea Cat Flea
Scientific Name Ceratophyllus styx Ctenocephalides felis
Order Siphonaptera Siphonaptera
Family Ceratophyllidae Pulicidae
Size 2-3 mm 1.5-3 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Underground
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sand Martin Flea

A flea species specific to sand martin colonies in their bank-nesting burrows. It can accumulate in large numbers in nest chambers.

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Did You Know?

Colony-nesting birds like sand martins provide an ideal environment for flea population explosions in shared burrows.

Cat Flea

The most common flea on both cats and dogs worldwide. Can jump up to 150 times its body length. A single female can produce up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.

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Did You Know?

Fleas can jump 150 times their body length — equivalent to a human leaping over a 75-story building. They achieve this using a pad of elastic protein called resilin.