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14 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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How long is the flea life cycle?
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Anywhere from 12-190 days with an average of 21 days (3 weeks).
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What are the optimal environmental factors fleas to survive?
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1) low altitude
2) temp of 75oF or 28.3oC 3) relative humidity of 78% |
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How many eggs does a female flea lay?
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Up to 1000 in one month.
An average of 2000 eggs per flea. |
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Describe the characteristics of flea eggs.
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They are smooth and slick. Only 30% of them remain on the animal, the rest will drop into the environment.
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When does a female flea start to lay eggs.
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Within 24-36 hours after the first blood meal.
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How long does it take for flea eggs to hatch?
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1-10 days depending on the environmental conditions.
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Describe some characteristics of flea larvae.
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The are VERY sensitive to heat and desiccation. They are positively geotactic and negative phototactic. They feed on flea dirt. They undergo 2 molting stages within 5-11 days before turning into pupae.
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Describe some characteristics of flea pupae.
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Extremely resilient to environmental conditions. Cocoon is sticky. Sticks to dust and debris for camouflage and protection.
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What conditions are needed for an adult flea to emerge from its coccoon?
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1) increased CO2 levels
2) warmth 3) physical pressure 4) vibrations |
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How long does the pupal stage last?
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8-9 days but can be up to 6 months if the environmental conditions aren't right.
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What do adult fleas do once they emerge from the coccoon?
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The move towards light and away from the ground (negatively geotactic, positively phototactic -- the opposite of larvae). Then the jump on a host and start feeding almost immediately.
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How much blood does a female flea consume per day?
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15 times her body weight in blood.
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What components does flea saliva contain?
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1) histamine-like compounds
2) proteolytic enzymes 3) anticoagulants |
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What types of immune responses occur in flea bite hypersensitivity?
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1) immediate hypersensitivity
2) delayed hypersensitivity 3) cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity reaction 4) late-phase IgE-mediated responses |
