Fauna
Insect

Hen Flea

Echidnophaga gallinacea

Also known as Sticktight Flea, Stickfast Flea, Chicken Flea

Hen fleas, widely known as sticktight fleas, are notorious ectoparasites that permanently anchor themselves to host skin using serrated mouthparts. Unlike free-roaming fleas, mated adult females cluster in dense, crusty patches on bare flesh around the eyes, comb, and wattles of poultry, remaining embedded for weeks while feeding and laying eggs. Heavy infestations cause severe blood loss, blindness, and secondary bacterial infections that can prove fatal to young chicks.

ParasiteWinglessBlood-feeding
Hen Flea reference
(c) Olha Schedrina / The Natural History Museum，保留部分权利（CC BY） · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDomestic fowl blood, Rodent blood, Wild bird blood
Predators
  • Ants
  • Predatory mites
  • Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsVeterinary parasiticides, dry heat, and coop sanitation
HabitatsPoultry coops, nest boxes, animal burrows, and warm sandy soil
Life span1–2 months as an adult; complete lifecycle takes 4–8 weeks
Classification
  1. FamilyPulicidae
  2. SpeciesEchidnophaga gallinacea
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskModerate
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is moderate
Vectors murine typhus and causes severe irritation; avoid bare-skin contact with infested poultry or coop bedding.
Why it is dangerous
Females anchor firmly into host skin to suck blood, producing ulcerated skin lesions, anemia, and potentially transmitting Rickettsia typhi.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Minute, dark reddish-brown wingless insects gathered in immobile, raised clusters on bare facial skin of birds.
What to do
Do not tear embedded fleas off host tissue by hand, and wash thoroughly after inspecting poultry or wild birds.
Responsible observation
  • Gloves required: Wear protective disposable gloves and long sleeves when handling infested poultry.
  • Litter management: Remove and burn or bag dry coop bedding where eggs and larvae develop.
  • Targeted care: Consult a veterinarian for approved topical treatments rather than pulling embedded fleas by force.
Related species
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