Collagraph
110mmx125mm
edition of four
The flea has lived alongside humans for ever, a fossil flea was discovered in Australia that was over 200 million years old.. We definitely don't love fleas but perhaps there's a sneaking regard for these tough survivors, depite their disgusting and dangerous habits. They certainly are one of nature's fascinating creatures.
Fleas are small, wingless bloodsucking insects (order Siphonaptera) with a characteristic jumping movement. A flea can jump over 80 times it's own height, the equivalent of a 6 foot man jumping over a 480 foot building (wow!). They feed mainly on mammals but also on birds. Of the 3000 species only a dozen commonly attack humans (phew, that narrows it down a bit). The most important species are the rat flea, the human flea and the cat flea
Their bites can cause irritation, serious discomfort and loss of blood. The rat flea is important as a vector of bubonic plague and flea-borne typhus. Cat fleas incidentally transmit tapeworms. Purlex Irratans, the human flea is less common (thankfully). Pet owners are most likely to get exposed to fleas, courtesy of their furry darlings (the pets, not the fleas) so need to keep checking and dosing their uninvited guests.
