Fleas are insects that live as parasites on birds and mammals, including humans. Like other parasites, fleas depend on the animal they live on for food. Fleas bite the animal to feed on its blood. They can spread diseases by biting an infected animal and then biting a healthy animal.
Fleas are small, wingless insects with a tough cuticle bearing many bristles and frequently combs (ctenidia) of broad, flattened spines. The adult flea varies from about 0.1 to 0.32 cm (0.039 to 0.13 inch) in length and feeds exclusively on the blood of mammals (including humans) and birds.
noun. ˈflē : any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals.
Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about 3 millimetres (1⁄8 inch) long, are usually brown, and have bodies that are "flattened" sideways or narrow, enabling them to move through their hosts' fur or feathers. They lack wings; their hind legs are extremely well adapted for jumping.
Fleas are ectoparasitic blood-sucking insects with the ability to jump, which commonly infest wild and domestic animals (mainly dogs and cats) but also humans. In addition to serious dermatological conditions mainly related to allergic reactions, fleas can be vectors for various pathogens.
A Flea's Fantastic Jump Takes More Than Muscle | Deep Look
Do fleas bite humans?
Fleas mainly feed on non-human animals but can bite and infect humans. They can be difficult to remove from the home and can survive for more than 100 days without a host. Bites from fleas can trigger allergic reactions, but they will not often have a serious impact on a person's health.
Long story short, it's not good to ignore fleas. These tiny blood-feeding pests pose a laundry list of threats to both people and pets alike and will cause trouble inside your home if they invade. To help you fend off these dangerous pests, here are some things to consider.
Atypical of other insects, fleas do not possess compound eyes but instead have simple eyes with a single biconvex lens. Their eyes are known as “eyespots'. Their bodies are laterally compresses, permitting easy movement through the hairs or feathers on the host's body.
Flea bites don't swell to the size of mosquito bites. Flea bites are also unique because of their bite pattern and location. Flea bites often appear in a straight line or a cluster. Fleas are more likely to bite you on your legs, especially your feet, calves and ankles.
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Adult fleas are black to reddish- brown, but young adults that haven't had their first blood meal are quite small and black in color; after feeding they expand and appear lighter brown. The hairy, worm-like, white larvae, which are 1/16 to 3/16 inches long, have a distinct brown head.
As far as entomologists are concerned, insects do not have pain receptors the way vertebrates do. They don't feel 'pain,' but may feel irritation and probably can sense if they are damaged.
Fleas are tiny wingless parasites that survive by sucking on animal or human blood. They find new hosts to live on by searching for body heat, movements, and breathing. (Fleas usually can't see well.) Once fleas detect a new host, they jump onto its skin, fur, or feathers.
Mopping and steam cleaning can help to kill flea eggs, and washing linens, bedding, and pet beds in the washing machine on the hot cycle is also advisable. If possible, declutter your home so it's easier to clean and there are fewer places for flea eggs to hide.
Enquiries relating to suspected flea infestations have increased by 47% in a year, according to recent data from Rentokil Pest control, and the experts believe the unusual weather in 2023 could be the reason.
The dangers of fleas extend beyond annoying bites. Flea bites can become infected, and fleas can also transmit diseases like spotted fever, plague, typhus, and cat scratch fever. It's essential to address a flea infestation promptly to protect your family's health.
Contrary to popular belief, fleas do not have wings. Of their six legs, the four in the front are much shorter than the two in the back. Fleas travel by crawling and jumping, and their long back legs enable them to jump up to 80 times their height and 200 times their body length.
While fleas are most commonly found on pets, they can infest furniture, carpets, and (unfortunately) hardwood floors. Fleas can burrow deep into the spaces between floorboards and feed on dust and debris that might linger there.
You can get fleas in your hair, but they won't stay and live there. Human hair isn't thick enough to provide shelter for fleas, and most species of flea don't even feed on humans, anyway. If a flea jumps onto you from one of your pets, it will probably leave in search of better shelter.
The most common product used to kill fleas on dogs instantly is Nitenpyram, more commonly known as Capstar. This single-use tablet is administered orally and kills fleas within 30 minutes. It is recommended that you contain your pet in a small area when using Capstar.
Flea bombs are not an effective method of flea control. The pesticides released do not penetrate the carpets or other fibers where the flea eggs and larvae are likely to be hiding. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recommends an Integrated Pest Management approach, instead of the use of insect bombs.
You may be able to see a flea during a bad infestation, but since fleas move fast through your pet's hair, it is often easier to spot what is called “flea dirt” (more on that below). Presence of “flea dirt”: Also known as flea feces, “flea dirt” looks like brownish-black dirt.
