Fleas

What are Fleas?

Fleas, which are little, wingless parasites, rely on the blood of their hosts, which can be any number of warm-blooded creatures. Fleas are most responsible for transmitting the extremely rare bubonic plague to humans, despite the prevalent misconception that fleas only affect pets. Flea infestations are most common in households with pets, but wild animals like raccoons and skunks can also introduce the biting bugs to a yard and eventually into a house. The cat flea is the most prevalent type and feeds mostly on feline hosts but has also been seen to feed on canine and human hosts. Our advice is to get a professional to help you get rid of fleas if you think you have an infestation.

What do Fleas Look Like?

Fleas are around 1/12 of an inch to 1/6 of an inch in length and are often a dark reddish brown hue. They have two antennas and six legs and are relatively flat. They can’t fly, but their powerful legs let them leap great distances. Fleas may be a little nuisance, but they are often visible to the human eye. The bristles on an adult flea’s back allow it to glide quickly through a host’s fur, hair, or feathers.

Signs of a Flea Infestation

Scratching, hair loss, and red rashes are typical symptoms of a flea infestation, but there are many others. Flea feces can look like tiny black dots, and they can be found all over your pet’s bedding and the floor. Flea eggs and larvae are more difficult to spot because they tend to hide in obscure places like cracks in the floor or behind household furnishings. The adult female flea will lay her eggs on your pet, and when your pet moves around, the eggs will fall off and spread to new regions. Get in touch with a flea control expert if you see any of the aforementioned symptoms.

Flea Infestation

How to Get Rid of Fleas

Combating fleas is a continual struggle. Because of the length of the flea life cycle, eliminating an infestation may take several months. Quickly treating any pets that may have become hosts is essential if you suspect a flea infestation. It’s important to treat your pet’s environment by combing for fleas and then giving them a bath with an effective flea treatment. If your pet’s symptoms persist, it may be time to visit the vet. Dogs should always be on a leash in public places, and bathed and groomed pets should be given frequent attention to prevent additional infestations.

Regular cleaning and vacuuming can help reduce flea populations and stop fleas from laying eggs, reducing the likelihood of an infection. Also, make sure to change the sheets frequently. In extreme cases, a professional flea exterminator may be needed, or you can try killing the eggs with heat from a steam cleaner.

Since fleas love to hide in long grass, it’s important to keep it mowed when you’re outside. Since fleas are primarily spread via rodents, it’s important to get rid of any places rodents could hide, including dense vegetation. A professional pest controller should be consulted in the event of a suspected flea infestation.

Do Fleas Bite?

Fleas are a problem for humans and other mammals equally. The bites are usually small and unpleasant, while also causing an itching red halo around the biting site. They don’t spread like mosquito bites and stay a manageable size while clustering or forming lines. Bite marks are most common in creases of human skin, such as those at the waist, groin, armpits, and knees. Flea allergy dermatitis is a dangerous condition that can be brought on by exposure to flea saliva, and it has been claimed that human beings can have a similar reaction to flea detritus.

The symptoms of a flea bite will typically go away without any therapy. However, if you want to avoid getting bitten again, you’ll need to have the infestation taken care of permanently by a professional.

Flea Education

Habits

Female fleas can lay up to 2,000 eggs throughout the course of their 100-day lifespan. These parasites hitchhike on the backs of rats and other mammals, and they tend to stay put. With their strong legs, fleas can vertically leap 150 times their body length, or 8 inches.

Fleas may quickly invade a home, just like any other pest. They get their name, “freeloaders,” because they hitchhike to new areas by attaching themselves to mammals, clothing items, and other things. A home infested with fleas will likely have fleas in the crevices of hardwood floors, as well as in furniture, beds, and carpeting where people and animals rest. A flea infestation can happen anywhere in the United States.

Threats

The bubonic plague is transmitted primarily by fleas. Moreover, diseased rats can spread the bacterial disease known as murine typhus to humans. In addition to spreading tapeworms and causing anemia, fleas should be actively managed as part of pet care.

Frequently Asked Questions