Hen Flea
Ceratophyllus gallinae
Adult hen fleas occur in bird nests and poultry housing, where they feed on the blood of chickens and other birds. They move through feathers with a narrow, laterally compressed body and escape danger with sudden powerful jumps. Females lay eggs in the nest after blood meals, allowing the larvae to develop in the surrounding debris. For its size, the adult is an exceptional jumper and can cover many times its body length in a single leap.
- Type
- Swift / Fang
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Hen Flea