Human flea. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a human flea (Pulex irritans). At upper centre are two sensory palps. At centre

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Human flea. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a human flea (Pulex irritans). At upper centre are two sensory palps. At centre are the mouthparts, which pierce the skin to enable the flea to suck the blood of its host. Fleas are external parasites that may carry and transmit diseases, including the plaque. The itchiness associated with a flea bite is mainly due to an allergic reaction to the flea's saliva or faeces that have been deposited near the bite and rubbed into it by scratching. Fleas only remain on their host whilst feeding.

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Size: 3406px × 2568px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, biological, biology, blood-feeder, blood-sucker, coloured, cut, cut-, cut-outs, cutout, cutouts, entomology, external, false-coloured, fauna, flea, head, human, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, irritans, maxillary, mouth, mouthparts, nature, outs, palp, palps, parasite, parasitic, pulex, sem, single, wildlife, zoological, zoology