Is it a flea?

The flea is a small, wingless insect with powerful hind legs adapted for jumping, commonly found in carpets and on pets.

CC0 photograph via iNaturalist (research-grade identification)

whichbug identifies insects from what you can see. It does not identify bites and has no health information.

What to look for

Size	1.5 to 3.3 mm
Colour	dark brown to reddish-brown
Shape	laterally compressed body with a hard exoskeleton
Wings	absent
Antennae	short and hidden in grooves
Movement	capable of powerful vertical and horizontal jumps

Where you'll find them

pet beddingcarpet fibersupholstered furniturecracks in flooring

nuisance only Fleas do not damage fabrics, food, or structural components of a building.

Season: spring through autumn

Signs it's around

small black specks resembling pepper (feces) on light surfaces
flea dirt on pet fur or bedding
tiny white eggs in fabric crevices
adult insects jumping when disturbed

Not sure? The lookalikes

vs bed bug nymph	flea has a laterally flattened body and jumps, while bed bug nymph is dorsoventrally flat and crawls
vs springtail	flea lacks a furcula (jumping fork) on its abdomen and has a hardened exoskeleton unlike the soft springtail
vs black carpet beetle	flea is wingless and laterally compressed, whereas black carpet beetle larvae are hairy and adults have wing covers

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