Fleas are an irritation for many people, but for Robert George they are a passion. For the past 58 years he has compiled detailed records of the blood-sucking parasites to create an atlas of fleas. "It's kept me out of mischief," Mr George, 86, said. "They intrigue me. I've always been able to find a lot of time for fleas." He has counted and identified fleas in samples sent to him by other researchers, on the bodies of animals, in their nests and, for bats, in their faeces to get an accurate idea of how they are spread across the British Isles. People are bitten most frequently by the human flea, Pulex irritans, but our blood is also a favourite of the cat and hen fleas. Others that like to take a bite out of people include the hedgehog flea and the grey squirrel flea.
Fleas are an irritation for many people, but for Robert George they are a passion. For the past 58 years he has compiled detailed records of the blood-sucking parasites to create an atlas of fleas.
"It's kept me out of mischief," Mr George, 86, said. "They intrigue me. I've always been able to find a lot of time for fleas."
He has counted and identified fleas in samples sent to him by other researchers, on the bodies of animals, in their nests and, for bats, in their faeces to get an accurate idea of how they are spread across the British Isles.
People are bitten most frequently by the human flea, Pulex irritans, but our blood is also a favourite of the cat and hen fleas. Others that like to take a bite out of people include the hedgehog flea and the grey squirrel flea.
And of course...White Noise - Here come the Fleas
keep to the Fen Causeway
