Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae): Factors Influencing Host-finding Behavior in the Laboratory

Visual and thermal cues were the primary stimuli responsible for the orientation and attraction of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouche), to sticky cylindrical targets. Postpupal age was also important. Contrast of a moving dark cylinder against a light backdrop was visually attractive to the fleas. No visual orientation was demonstrated under red light. Increasing the complexity of patterns on the target did not increase its attractiveness. Orientation and attraction to a stationary heated target was demonstrated, but required the additional stimulation of air movements to evoke a directed jump. Light, CO2, and air currents stimulated locomotion.