Even among insects, fleas are pretty small creatures, averaging just three-sixteenths of an inch or less in length. But don't let their diminutive stature fool you! Few pests are as vexing, unsanitary and persistent as the humble flea. Since they feed primarily on the blood of warm-blooded animals, they represent a constant nuisance to both human beings and their pets. Pets that spend quality time outdoors, such as dogs and cats, are particularly easy prey because fleas are not only

Flea virtually impossible to spot within the grassy expanse of a lawn, but also possess stupendous leaping abilities that enable them to latch on to the unsuspecting host in an instant. Flea bites on pets, especially short-legged ones, can occur just about anywhere on the animal's body; but when humans are attacked, the bites generally occur in clusters of two or three around the ankles and legs.

Unlike parasites that confine themselves to a single species of host animal, fleas are extraordinarily indiscriminate and will often shift freely from one type of host to another for a meal. Rats, birds, poultry, dogs, cats and humans are just a few of the standard entrees on the flea's menu.. Not surprisingly, they are known carriers of several diseases, including typhus and bubonic plague among humans and tapeworm among dogs.