Can Fleas Detect Heat?
WouterA common question in the pet industry is “can fleas detect heat?” This answer is dependent on the type of flea. A typical flea measures about 12mm in length and feeds on the blood of mammal hosts. Its antennae are located in the depression behind its eyes. These antennae have highly sensitive responses to heat, vibration, smell, and touch.
In the presence of heat, fleas move towards the heat source. This is called thermotaxis. Fleas belong to the positive thermotaxis group, a group of organisms that move in relation to gradients of temperature. This makes it possible for fleas to distinguish between normal heat sources and body heat. Additionally, fleas prefer living creatures, such as dogs and cats, which are prone to produce a distinct scent. Another factor that attracts fleas is carbon dioxide.
While fleas do not prefer bright light, they do respond to light and shadows cast by their hosts. During the daytime, they tend to stay in the dark. However, as adults, they come out to search for a host. Fleas do not respond well to continuous light, which is why flea traps that use intermittent light are more effective than those that use continuous light.
Adult fleas can detect heat when they feel a potential host. They have strong hind legs and can jump up to eight inches vertically and 16 inches horizontally. They lay two to fourteen eggs at a time, laying up to 800 eggs in their lifetime. Once they have a blood meal, they emerge from their cocoon. Then they mate and lay eggs.
