Fleas (Siphonaptera) are best described as which of the following?

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are best described as which of the following?

• A. Wingless, laterally flattened bodies with jumping hind legs
• B. Wings present with scales on veins
• C. They have aquatic nymphs
• D. They have chewing mouthparts as adults

Answer: (A)

Fleas are wingless, laterally flattened insects with strong hind legs built for jumping. This body plan lets them move quickly through host fur or feathers and stay hidden against the body, while the lack of wings reflects their lifestyle of living on a host rather than flying around. Their life cycle has no aquatic stages; immature fleas are larvae that develop in the host’s environment, feeding on debris and dried blood rather than water. Adult fleas feed by piercing the host’s skin and sucking blood, not chewing. Taken together, the wingless, laterally flattened form with jumping hind legs best describes fleas.

Fleas are wingless, laterally flattened insects with strong hind legs built for jumping. This body plan lets them move quickly through host fur or feathers and stay hidden against the body, while the lack of wings reflects their lifestyle of living on a host rather than flying around. Their life cycle has no aquatic stages; immature fleas are larvae that develop in the host’s environment, feeding on debris and dried blood rather than water. Adult fleas feed by piercing the host’s skin and sucking blood, not chewing. Taken together, the wingless, laterally flattened form with jumping hind legs best describes fleas.