View source for Pulex irritans

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[[File:PulexIrritans.jpg|250px|thumb|female (left) and male (right) ''Pulex irritans'' (click on image to enlarge it)<br/>Author(s): Herms, William Brodbeck (1876-1949)<br/>Source: [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PulexIrritans.jpg Wikimedia Commons]]]
<font color="#800000">'''''Pulex irritans'''''</font> Linnaeus, 1758 - (human flea)

The human flea is widely distributed around the world. It not only bites humans, but can also parasitise pets, domestic animals, other mammals and birds. Flea bites cause itching and skin swelling, also often secondary infections or allergic reactions. In addition, flea can transmit several diseases, including cestodes, ''Rickettsia'', and in some areas the bacterial agent of plague (''Yersinia pestis''). While ''Y. pestis'' is associated with rodents and is transmitted mainly by the Oriental rat flea (''[[Xenopsylla cheopis]]''), ''Pulex irritans'' has been also found naturally infected with the plague bacterium during epidemics, although it usually does not bite rodents. Compared to other flea species, ''P. irritans'' is not an effective disease vector.
{{VN
|de=Menschenfloh
|en=human flea
|es=pulga común
|fr=puce de l'homme
}}
Female fleas typically lay eggs after every blood meal. These usually fall off the host and the emerging larvae feed on a variety of organic substances. They develop over a period of 3-4 weeks, including the pupal stage. The pupae are surrounded by a sticky cocoon which is usually covered by debris. The emerging adult fleas depend again on blood meals and might live for up to 2 years. Adult female fleas are around 3 mm long, with males being slightly smaller. The body is laterally compressed and wingless.


<gallery widths=200px caption="Other images of Pulex irritans (Wikimedia Commons and PaDIL - click to enlarge)">
File:Pulex_irritans_PaDIL136562a.jpg|male
File:Modell von Pulex irritans (weiblicher Menschenfloh) -Louis M. Meusel-.jpg|museum model of female
File:Pulex_irritans_PaDIL136562b.jpg|head of female
File:Pulex_irritans_PaDIL136562c.jpg|abdomen of female
</gallery>

[[Category:Pulex (genus)]]