Fleas

Flea is the common name for any of the small wingless insects. Fleas are external parasites, living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals and birds. Some well known flea species include; Cat Flea, Dog Flea, Northern Rat Flea, Oriental Rat Flea.  In most cases fleas are just a nuisance to their hosts, but some people and some animals suffer allergic reactions to flea saliva resulting in rashes. Flea bites generally result in the formation of a slightly-raised swollen itching spot with a single puncture point at the center.  However, fleas can transmit disease. One devastating example of this was the bubonic plague, transmitted between rodents and humans. Murine typhus (endemic typhus) fever, and in some cases tapeworms can also be transmitted by fleas.