Human fleas occasionally feed on swine and dogs. The oriental rat flea feeds primarily on commensal rodents but sometimes feeds on man. Scratching the area of the bite causes the skin to be irritated. Some fleas, especially the oriental rat fleas, are capable of transmitting diseases such as endemic typhus and bubonic plague. Fortunately, such instances of disease transmission to humans are rare in the southeastern United States.
Females deposit eggs on the host a few at a time.
Human fleas lay up to 400 eggs in their lifetime. Eggs usually fall off host animals and hatch in 2 to 14 days. Larvae generally feed on organic matter such as excrement from adult fleas and domestic animals. Immature fleas can develop indoors in carpeting and overstuffed furniture. After 1 to 5 weeks, larvae spin cocoons and pupate.