An Tech Insects Review

What are the characteristics of insects?

 Have 3 pairs of legs (6 legs total)
 Have 3 body parts (head, thorax, abdomen)
 Have 4 lifecycle stages:
o Egg
o Larva (maggots)
o Pupa (this stage may be skipped in some)
o Adult
Examples: Fleas, Lice, Flies
What are the characteristics of arachnids?
 Have 4 pairs of legs (8 legs total)
 Have 2 body parts (head, abdomen)
 Have a slightly different 4 lifestage cycle (when compared to the insect’s)
o Egg
o Larva (larva has 6 legs)
o Nymph (nymph has 8 legs)
o Adult
Examples: Ticks, Mites

What is the scientific name for the most common flea found on dogs & cats?
Ctenocephalides felis

What is the scientific name for the flea?

Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis

What is the scientific name for the “bot fly”?

Cuterebra sp.

What are the two orders of lice?

Mallophaga & Anoplura

What are the differences in appearance between the two types of lice?
Mallophaga:
 Smaller than Anoplura
 Have a LARGE, round head (Darth Vader)
 Head is wider than the widest part of the thorax
 Have mouthparts are adapted for biting or chewing the host
Anoplura:
 Larger than Mallophaga
 Head is narrower than the widest part of the thorax
 Mouthparts are adapted for sucking blood from host
What is the lifecycle of the flea?
1. Females deposit eggs onto host. The eggs are not sticky and will fall off where the dog/cat plays or
sleeps
2. Eggs hatch into small, maggot-like larvae. Flea larvae feed on organic debris (especially dried blood
droppings defecated by adult fleas –flea dirt-)
3. Larvae molt and form pupae (sticky, loose cocoon)
4. Fleas emerge as adults

What is the lifecycle of the louse?

1. A nit (egg) cements itself to the hair of the host and will hatch 5-14 days after being laid by the adult.
2. A nymph emerges from the eggs (smaller and missing genital openings). The louse is a nymph for 2-3
weeks, then becomes an adult.

What is the lifecycle of the fly?

1. Adult flies lay eggs around rodent holes and trails.
2. Eggs hatch and larvae penetrate the skin of the host (usually around the face/neck)
3. Following migration to the SQ sites, the larva forms a visible nodule (fistula) with an external breathing
hole.
4. They remain in the host for 1-2 months, then leave the host and pupate in the ground.

Are the following zoonotic? If so, what diseases do they cause?

 Flea: YES. Causes Dipylidiasis, Bartonella henselae (cat scratch fever) & Yersenia pestis (bubonic
plague)
 Louse: No.
 Bot Fly: YES. Causes same symptoms as it does in cats and dogs (hole in skin with a bot fly in it)

How would you remove a bot fly?

1. Treat the wound with antibacterial scrub.
2. Use tweezers to CAREFULLY pull the bot fly out of the hole. If the bot fly is crushed, it may cause an
allergic reaction in the patient.