DISTRIBUTION OF CAT FLEA LARVAE IN THE CARPETED HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENT

Cat flea egg production usually peaks during the night, coinciding wit h normal sleep periods for indoor pet dogs and cats. Adult flea feedin g activity and the production of dried-blood feces is not correlated w ith the sleep activity of the host. Eggs and dried-blood feces fall or are dislodged from the pelage of the host at sleep or resting sites. In a case study example, cat flea hatched eggs, and larval exuviae wer e found to have a clumped distribution within household carpet. The sp atial distribution of the immature stages were influenced by the habit s of the pet host indoors. First- and second-instar larvae do not move far from the location of epa deposition and hatch. The movement of th e larval stage is influenced by several factors in bo the environment, including pedestrian and pet traffic. The distribution of larvae in h ousehold carpeting is correlated with the sleeping habits of the host and egg deposition habits of the cat flea.