# What Purpose do Fleas Serve? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252 "2014-08-22T23:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/41 "2014-08-24T15:10:16Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Ukulele tuning. > [@GESancMan](#): > > Playing bass. šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/42 "2014-08-24T15:17:12Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Well, sometimes if parents will not condone a marriage, a flea can bite both lovers and by letting their blood mingle in its tiny chamber, become marriage bed and temple. If youā€™re into that kind of thing, I mean. I think weā€™re donne here. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/43 "2014-08-24T15:23:27Z")
A flea _is_ a hairy diadem to another flea, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/44 "2014-08-24T15:30:16Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > šŸ˜• [Red Hot Chili Peppers](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_(musician)) for the bass ref. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/45 "2014-08-24T15:35:38Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > A flea _is_ a hairy diadem to another flea, I suppose. I just thought of, and TM now, the insult of calling a woman a flying cuntā€“a fearsome relative of a bitch on wheels. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/46 "2014-08-24T20:40:32Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > He is also greatly underestimating the energy of even one imploding star. No way even the most hateful human being can generate that much heat. ā€œHeā€ is a she, last time I checked. And I was simply making a statement as to how much I do hate fleas. I just _love_ how I canā€™t ask a question here without being ridiculed. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/47 "2014-08-24T20:44:26Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yep. I canā€™t see how the thread question can make sense in any context other than some sort of ā€˜intelligent designā€™ belief, looking for support for that belief. And I doubt that General Questions is the right sub-forum at SDMB for discussion of that. (What would beā€¦IMHO? Great Debates?) > > Iā€™m not trying to characterize the OP. I am just assuming (unless corrected) that the idea that a particular life form must ā€˜serve a purposeā€™ in the Earth biosphere comes out of creationist or related modes of belief. No, I am not a creationist religious fanatic in the least. Lost any belief in a ā€˜godā€™ a long time ago. Perhaps I didnā€™t phrase my question very well, or perhaps Iā€™m just an easy target. Maybe a little of both. What I wonder is: Is there an ECOLOGICAL PURPOSE for fleas? If they vanished, what impact would be made? Is that better? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/48 "2014-08-24T21:17:25Z")
Thatā€™sā€¦ not much better. No species has an ā€œecological purposeā€. Like, plovers clean crocodilesā€™ teeth and find their food that way (also avoid getting munched) in a neat symbiotic relationship ; but it would be silly to say that the purpose of plovers is to clean croc teeth, just as it would be silly to say the purpose of a crocodile is to provide food and protection to plover colonies. They both exist. They both perpetuate themselves, first through feeding, then through reproduction. And thatā€™s it. The same is true for every other living being out there, from amoebas to planet-sized psychic space whales (_SotS_, anybody ?). If all fleas suddenly popped out of existence, well, fleas would be much bummed. Maybe another parasite would get its chance to shine and be complete freeloading dicks - at least thatā€™s what happens in the corporate world :). But maybe not. Iā€™ll tell you, though, the social life of chimps would probably be very negatively impacted. Picking fleas off each otherā€™s fur is a big bonding and community-building ritual among them I believe. Though I suppose they could just switch to alcohol and oral sex like everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![thecavalry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@thecavalry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thecavalry)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/49 "2014-08-24T21:21:24Z")
No animal exists to provide some purpose. They exist because theyā€™re good at propagation. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/50 "2014-08-24T21:34:30Z")
A curious creature is the flea. You cannot tell the He from She. But He can tell, And so can She. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/51 "2014-08-24T22:54:26Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > What I wonder is: Is there an ECOLOGICAL PURPOSE for fleas? If they vanished, what impact would be made? > > Is that better? Your error is in using the word ā€œpurpose.ā€ As has been said, the only purpose of a species is to make more of itself. You appear to be talking about the speciesā€™ role in an ecological system. Parasites are just a much a part of any ecological system as predators. You might as well ask what purpose predators serve. In fact, ecologically speaking parasites fill a similar role to predators. The difference is that they only eat a little bit of their prey at a time, and donā€™t kill it outright. Parasites play a major role in controlling host populations, just as predators do. Severe parasite infestations can debilitate or even kill a host, thus reducing the numbers of the host species and preventing it from over-exploiting other species. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/52 "2014-08-24T22:56:25Z")
Among other things, fleas played a vital role in European history. Due to their tireless efforts they ended feudalism. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/53 "2014-08-24T23:09:05Z")
A flea and a fly in a flue Were trapped. What could they do? ā€œLet us flee!ā€ said the fly. ā€œLet us fly!ā€ said the flea. So they flew through a flaw in the flue. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/54 "2014-08-25T19:58:44Z")
This thread has become a tribute to Ogden Nash. (And, why not?) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/55 "2014-08-25T20:10:38Z")
**Banquo** : ā€¦Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! _Macbeth III:3:17_ Your turn. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/56 "2014-08-25T22:47:20Z")
Ogden Nash, he was smitten With doggerel, and other verse Once by a flea, he was bitten Causing him, to rage and curse ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/57 "2014-08-25T23:25:44Z")
\*Some people think that fleas are black But I donā€™t think itā€™s so, Cuz Mary had a little lamb With fleas as white as snow. \* ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/58 "2014-08-25T23:49:58Z")
Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these treesā€™ cheese freeze. Thatā€™s what made these three free fleas sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/59 "2014-08-26T18:41:06Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yep. I canā€™t see how the thread question can make sense in any context other than some sort of ā€˜intelligent designā€™ belief, looking for support for that belief. And I doubt that General Questions is the right sub-forum at SDMB for discussion of that. (What would beā€¦IMHO? Great Debates?) > > Iā€™m not trying to characterize the OP. I am just assuming (unless corrected) that the idea that a particular life form must ā€˜serve a purposeā€™ in the Earth biosphere comes out of creationist or related modes of belief. Really? you canā€™t see how it makes sense in any other context? How about this: "I hate fleas! I wish they would just disappear from the planet. However, i remember some stories about bees dying off in large numbers and how that would negatively affect human beings (because of pollination or something, doesnā€™t matter), and I also hate spiders, but I know they kill a lot of other insects so getting rid of all spiders might have a detrimental affect on human beings and/or the environment. I wonder if killing of all the fleas in the world would have any similar negative affects on human beings and/or the environment? I know, Iā€™ll ask the helpful people at the Dope, and see if anyone has any insights on whether or not the lack of fleas in the world would have a significant effect on human beings and/or the environment." Now, seems to me that is what the OP meant but childish nursery rhymes and incessant nit-pickery is what she got, instead of intelligent use of context clues to determine what the question was. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252/60 "2014-08-26T19:15:02Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > incessant nit-pickery is what she got Actually, thatā€™s a whole different [order](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louse) of parasites. šŸ˜ƒ But your point is well taken. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-purpose-do-fleas-serve/696252.md?page=4)