Which statement concerning fleas is true?

Which statement concerning fleas is true?

• A. Flea dirt is flea feces
• B. Flea eggs are not sticky and they fall off into the environment
• C. Adults cannot survive for long periods without feeding
• D. Fleas are host specific

Answer: (C)

Fleas are obligate blood feeders, so the adult stage relies on a blood meal to survive and reproduce. Without a host to feed on, adults cannot maintain their energy and living conditions, so they will die after a relatively short period. This fundamental dependence on a blood meal makes the statement about not lasting long without feeding correct and most directly describes their biology. While flea dirt is indeed flea feces and flea eggs are typically not sticky and fall into the environment, those details are accurate life-cycle notes rather than the core reason adults cannot endure without nourishment. Fleas are not universally host-specific; many species can infest more than one host, so that generalization isn’t as reliable.

Fleas are obligate blood feeders, so the adult stage relies on a blood meal to survive and reproduce. Without a host to feed on, adults cannot maintain their energy and living conditions, so they will die after a relatively short period. This fundamental dependence on a blood meal makes the statement about not lasting long without feeding correct and most directly describes their biology. While flea dirt is indeed flea feces and flea eggs are typically not sticky and fall into the environment, those details are accurate life-cycle notes rather than the core reason adults cannot endure without nourishment. Fleas are not universally host-specific; many species can infest more than one host, so that generalization isn’t as reliable.