Paraceras melis primarily parasitizes the European badger Meles meles, but it can occasionally infest other carnivores such as foxes, martens, dogs, or cats. It is widespread in Europe and Asia. Female individuals of the badger flea reach a body length between 3 mm and 4.5 mm, while male individuals are slightly smaller, measuring between 2.5 and 3.5 mm in length (Brinck-Lindroth & Smit 2007). Both genders feed on the host’s blood and undergo development from egg to adult through three larval stages and a pupal stage (Lucius et al. 2018). Paraceras melis is considered the main vector for Trypanosoma pestanai in European badgers (Lizundia et al. 2011) and can transmit a variety of other pathogens.

Human pathogenicity: No cases of human infestation with the badger flea Paraceras melis have been reported.