Img 1 Adult cat fleas are dark brown.
Summary
Cat fleas aren’t black. They’re a dark brown color. However, their feces is black or dark red, and it’s often found within dog and cat fur.
Details
Fleas Aren’t Black
Adult cat fleas are a dark brown color Img 1. While they aren’t black, fleas may appear black from a distance.
Unfed Fleas are a Dark Color
Young, unfed adult fleas are a dark brown, almost black, color. The dark coloration is caused by overlapping abdominal segments. Upon consuming a blood meal, their abdomens expand, nearly doubling in size. The segments spread out to accommodate for the growth, and the body appears as a lighter color since the segments no longer overlap.
Flea Dirt is Black
When pets have fleas, dark specks will accumulate in their fur Img 2. These reddish-black specks aren’t the insects themselves, but their feces. It’s often called flea dirt. Flea dirt is composed of undigested or partially-digested host blood. Once dry, it resembles black pepper. If moistened, the fecal blood will reconstitute, turning water into a crimson red color.
Img 2 These black specks in a cat’s fur is flea feces (flea dirt).
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I am picking up flea like insects that have fallen off the dogs. They are black in color. I need help in identifying type of flea. The dogs are on comfortis and have been treated with Revolution topical this past Wednesday. Fleas type started falling out a few hours after and have continued through till today so far – but they are definitely black with legs and beak.
One of the best ways to identify fleas is to look for their laterally compressed body (click here for an image).