Fleas.
External parasites are generally found on or in the skin and are important pests because they bite or annoy both humans and their pets. Fleas, mange mites, and ticks are the most frequently encountered and most troublesome pests that attack humans and their pets.
Latin Name
Siphonaptera
Appearance
Fleas are small (1/16″), dark, reddish-brown, wingless, blood-sucking insects. Their bodies are laterally compressed (flattened side-to-side), permitting easy movement through the hairs on the host’s body. Their legs are long and well adapted for jumping. The flea body is hard, polished and covered with many hairs and short spines directed backward. The mouthparts of an adult flea are adapted for sucking blood from a host.
Habitat
Several species of fleas may be pests in Florida, and five kinds have been found on a single animal. The cat flea is the most frequently found flea, although the dog, human, and sticktight fleas are also found in Florida. Fleas may attack a wide variety of warm-blooded animals including dogs, humans, chickens, rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice.