Flea

Fleas (ノミ, Nomi) are a rare insect in the that can be found from spring to early winter. They appear as black, bouncing specks on a random villager, and can be caught by hitting the villager with a net. They are worth 70 Bells. Unusually, this does not hurt the villager. It does, however, change their catchphrase, usually something about them itching. Once the flea has been caught, the villager that played host to it will give a response, usually one of denial, shock, or gratitude, which corresponds to their personality.

Fleas make a bouncing noise when on a villager, and when caught are surrounded by a red ring and a pointing hand to make it easier to see. Players cannot play host to fleas themselves.

Donating to the Museum
As with all insects in the, the flea can be donated to the Museum, followed by a small talk by Blathers, the curator.

In
Blathers, the curator of the Museum, will unwillingly accept fleas for exhibition. Here, he speaks of the flea;

"Heed my words, (Player)! Bathe often! Wash yourself thoroughly! And shampoo regularly! Allow yourself to become filthy, and fleas move in! Blech! The very IDEA... Now I feel itchy."

The flea can be found near the pond in the first room of the insect exhibit after donation.

In
Again, Blathers will express his disgust at the flea in City Folk:

"Hoo now, have you ever had a chance to look at a flea up close and personal? They're utterly noisome! Especially vulgar are their flattened bodies, which allow them to wriggle into all sorts of places. Oh, mercy, I may need to sit on the floor for a moment. All this talk of fleas makes me feel rather woozy."

Once donated, fleas appear as a barely-visible speck, bouncing around on the path on the central terrace in the insect exhibit.

Encyclopedia Information
When the player has caught the flea, they can find information about the insect in the bug menu. Below is the information regarding the flea:

Further Information
The human flea, Pulex irritans, is a widespread species of flea that is thought to have originated from South America. Despite the name, they are found on all manner of birds and mammals, including dogs, pigs, chickens, monkeys and even some species of bat. They have powerful legs that can be used to jump incredible heights: roughly 200 times their body length.

Fleas feed on blood. After feeding, females lay eggs on the skin or hair of the host animal. A single flea can have over 500 offspring in its lifetime, which live in the host's bedding feeding on dust and dried blood excreted by their parents after feeding.