The bird flea is a parasitic bloodsucker that primarily infests birds, but also mammals and occasionally humans. It lives in nests and bird shelters and jumps onto its host to suck blood. Chickens, pigeons, and wild birds are particularly affected.
(Image: Cat flea)
Bird flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae)
- Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
- Phylum: Arthropods (Arthropoda)
- Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
- Order: Fleas (Siphonaptera)
- Family: (Pulicidae)
- Genus: (Certaophyllus)
- Species: Bird flea (Certaophyllus gallinae)
Size:
- Head-body length: 2-3 mm
Look:
- Color: Brownish
Life cycle:
- Reproduction: After mating in their hiding places, the female lays eggs in bird nests or in the surrounding area.
- Egg laying: A female lays up to 20 eggs per day, which collect in nesting material and crevices.
- Development: After about two to five days, the bird flea larvae hatch and feed on organic materials and skin flakes. After another 7–14 days, they pupate. Inside their cocoons, they can wait for weeks or even months for a suitable host. As soon as a host is nearby, the adult fleas emerge and begin feeding on blood.
- Lifespan: Adult bird fleas live for up to one year, but can survive for months without food by resting in their cocoon.
Habitat:
- It prefers to live in hiding places near the primary host, but can enter the building during renovations or when the primary host is being driven away, and take the human as a secondary host.
Nutrition:
- It feeds exclusively on blood.
Behave:
- The bird flea is nocturnal and seeks out its host. In cases of mass infestation, the fleas can wander into buildings through cracks and crevices.
Engraving:
- Using its mouthparts, the bird flea penetrates the skin and extracts blood from its victim.
- Taking blood takes several minutes.
Disease transmission:
- Bird fleas can cause allergic reactions, severe skin irritation, and itching in humans.
Remove pigeon nests:
- Since humans are a secondary host for the bird flea, the origin lies with the primary host. Pigeon nests must be removed where possible, in accordance with the hunting regulations.
Block access for pigeons:
- Seal attics, ventilation slots and facade openings to prevent pigeons from settling in the building.
Sealing living spaces:
- Seal cracks, crevices and access points to attics to prevent the bird flea from spreading indoors.
Professional pest control in case of infestation
- Chemical and physical measures implemented by experts help to sustainably combat an existing infestation.