Of all known parasites, fleas are the smallest in size. They cause the greatest harm to animals that live in close contact with humans - dogs and cats, but they can also be dangerous for humans. Fleas are carriers of serious diseases such as pseudotuberculosis, listeriosis, and tularemia. We will tell you in more detail about the habits, characteristics of life and methods of fighting fleas.
Appearance of fleas
The flea size is usually from 1 to 5 mm in length, but in some species the female can reach 1 centimeter, especially after a heavy meal.
As a rule, large fleas, about one centimeter in size, choose deer and elk as their prey. The color of fleas is usually red, dark brown and sometimes black. Fleas do not have wings and cannot fly, but they can jump well. The absence of wings is even an advantage for fleas, because they would prevent them from moving in the fur of animals. The flea's body consists of an abdomen and a head; a durable chitinous layer covers the surface of the body. The body structure of fleas is similar to that of a shrimp, only much smaller in size. Thanks to this body shape, fleas easily penetrate the fur of animals, the feathers of birds and the clothing of people. The flea gets onto the animal's body through long jumps.
Also, the flea's body is covered with many bristles, and on the head there are ctenidia - these are jagged combs; behind the eyes there are antennae - antennas that help fleas catch females during the mating season. Such bristles and combs prevent parasites from being combed out of the hair. The flea's mouthparts are piercing-sucking and work as follows: the insect bites the victim's skin, releases a little saliva to stop blood clotting, after which the flea penetrates the wound, it needs to reach the blood vessels.
There is one more feature in the anatomy of fleas - this is the pygidium organ, it is located in the back of the abdomen. On its surface there are hundreds of tiny hairs that can capture air vibrations. The function of the pygidium is to warn the parasite about dangers.
Description of the insect
The sand flea is commonly known as the amphipod, or beach flea, and prefers exceptionally warm climates. That is why the sand flea has chosen Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, as well as the coast of India near the beaches of the Andaman Islands. Currently, the penetration of these fleas into Asia is increasingly being recorded.
Larva
The larvae of this small parasite resemble tiny legless white worms. They have no eyes, and their mouthparts have chewing functions. Their body length is only 4 millimeters. The main habitat of the larvae is sandy soil. This is what determines the species name. The larvae molt three times. They then pupate, and the final stage is complete metamorphosis. After just three weeks, the larvae transform into small but very active adults.
Adults
The flea's body is slightly flattened on the sides and is equipped with a compacted chitinous cover. A pair of eyes
located on a rounded head. The third pair of limbs is designed for jumping. The flea body contains large amounts of natural rubber.
The oral apparatus allows the adult to quickly pierce the skin and, using powerful swallowing pumps, draw blood from the capillaries. The blood then enters the narrow esophagus through the pharynx and then moves to the dilated proventriculus. Its posterior part protrudes directly into the midgut to form the cardiac valve. Peristalsis allows the blood in the stomach and proventriculus to mix freely. A significant part of the abdomen is occupied by the midgut, which performs not only secretory, but also absorption functions.
What do fleas eat
The flea feeds only on the blood of the creature it parasitizes. The main victims of fleas include mammals that live in people's homes or farms. Wild animals living in burrows or nests are much less likely to be attacked by fleas. Typically, a flea does not live on the body of its victim all the time, but jumps there only to feed on blood; the rest of the time, fleas simply exist next to the owner. As for wild animals, fleas live on their bodies all the time; such insects are called stationary. The process of saturation in fleas can take several hours; fleas often drink blood as a reserve, due to which the size of the abdomen greatly increases. So-called stationary fleas need regular feeding; this is the main reason not to leave the body of their victim, but to live there permanently. Fleas can live on any animal, for example, live on a dog and then jump onto a squirrel. Only bat fleas do not adhere to this lifestyle; they parasitize exclusively on bats.
Are insecticides effective in controlling fleas?
It is possible to cope with any insect pests in the house if you apply insecticidal preparations in a timely manner. Their range is not so wide, but their effectiveness has long been proven.
Since fleas are blood-sucking insects, they cannot be removed using food baits that are used to control ants or cockroaches. Therefore, anti-flea chemicals are manufactured in 2 forms:
- Aerosols - these products distribute components that are poisonous to insects by airborne droplets. They just need to be sprayed, they act on both adults and eggs, instantly destroying them. If you need to treat upholstered furniture and textiles, choose aerosols - they are applied evenly and disappear quickly. Their only disadvantage is their short-term effect.
- Contact preparations can be powders or special suspensions. The substances have a negative effect on the nervous system of parasites. They provoke first their complete paralysis and then death. Contact insecticides provide a more stable treatment effect than aerosols, but at the same time they are dangerous for pets. When processing a room, it is better to temporarily send them to a safer place.
Regardless of the type of insecticide you use to remove fleas, follow a clear algorithm of actions:
- Perform a thorough wet cleaning of the room - wash hard-to-reach places where fleas live.
- Move all furniture as far as possible from the walls, remove and remove carpets and paintings from the room.
- Isolate pets and people from areas infested with fleas.
- Be sure to wear personal protective equipment - overalls, respirator, gloves.
- Apply the product to all surfaces where necessary, in strict accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.
- Close all windows and doors tightly to prevent premature venting of the substance. It is best to leave the room like this overnight to ensure that the parasites are removed.
- After the night, the home should be thoroughly ventilated and all dead insects removed. Afterwards, you need to thoroughly wash all surfaces, but only if this is recommended by the manufacturer of the insecticidal product.
- If necessary, the home disinfestation procedure should be repeated after 1-2 weeks.
Seek the services of experienced exterminators at SPK “Liquidator” if disinfestation is beyond your capabilities. We guarantee prompt visit to the site, treatment of housing with certified preparations and a guarantee for disinfestation services.
Types of fleas
Today, science knows about 27 different types of fleas; let’s look at the most famous and interesting ones.
Human flea.
The most famous type of flea. They attack not only humans, but also animals that live near people - horses, dogs, cats. The size of such a flea is approximately 1.5 - 3 mm, and its jump reaches 30 cm in height and half a meter in length. A distinctive feature of human fleas is the absence of teeth on the thoracic part of the body. This type of flea is dangerous to humans and animals because it is the causative agent of plague and causes pulicosis.
cat flea
This flea parasitizes not only on cats, as the name might suggest. In addition to cats, dogs, rodents and, in some cases, even people can be hunted. Fleas of this species have a body measuring 0.7 - 5 mm. The lifespan of cat fleas is up to two years.
Dog flea
These fleas are similar in lifestyle to cats and parasitize not only dogs, but also cats. Outwardly, they are also similar, the only difference between them is their life expectancy - a dog flea does not live longer than one and a half years.
Southern rat flea
The most dangerous type of flea, they carry plague, mouse and rat tapeworm. They can live in any conditions, but are more often found in places with warm climates. The body size of females is 1.8-2.6 mm, males are slightly smaller - 1.4-2 mm. Color ranges from light brown to dark brown. They parasitize rats and other rodents and live in their burrows.
Penetrating flea.
It is also called the Brazilian or sand flea. This flea originates in Brazil and Haiti, and over time spread to Africa, Pakistan and India. It is brown in color with a small white spot. The size of this flea is approximately 1 mm, it can jump to a height of up to 30 cm. As a rule, it lives in grass, from which it jumps on humans, birds, and animals. Penetrates under the skin of the legs of animals, and gets under the nails of humans. Brazilian flea bites are dangerous, leading to tetanus, inflammation and even gangrene, which leads to amputation of the limb.
What are sand fleas often confused with?
Very often, in Vietnam and Thailand, insects that have nothing to do with them are mistaken for this type of parasite. Eg:
mosquitoes and midges. Certain types of midges are capable of moving so quickly that it is very difficult to notice them, but visually the bites left by them are characterized by many common features with fleas; ants that accidentally crawled onto a person’s body, which the latter crushed, for example, with his hand; ticks. These insects almost always bite painlessly, and suck blood for a very long time. After their bites, large painful bumps are left; bedbugs, however, in the most poorly equipped bungalows and hotels. These pests leave a large number of bite marks, but they never grow into bumps.
Often, as previously mentioned, sand fleas infect people's feet. To check the calves and the top of the feet, you can spread a thick layer of any cream in which the parasitic insect will simply get stuck. Then it will be possible to determine its type and the harm that could be caused to a person.
Life stages of fleas
The life cycle of a flea consists of four stages, like many other pests:
- The first stage is the egg.
- Next is the larva
- Doll
- Finally, the adult is an imago
The eggs take approximately two weeks to develop. Then translucent larvae without legs emerge from them. At this time, they penetrate the victim’s nest and feed there on rotting products, dead particles of epithelium, and blood residues in parental excrement.
Next, the larva becomes a pupa; this stage lasts from several days and can last several months. At the last stage, the pupa turns into a full-fledged adult.
Security measures
On the clean and well-groomed beaches of hotels in Thailand and Vietnam, there is no particular need to be afraid of fleas, since here they are constantly fought with and the sand is regularly sifted.
Those who have a desire to visit the forest or a wild beach without becoming one of the victims of fleas or other parasitic insects will need to:
dress well. It is better to give preference to pants and a shirt with long sleeves, and, of course, do not forget to wear socks. It is also important to protect your neck by tying a scarf; before going on a hike, spray your arms, neck and legs with repellent, which should contain a large amount of DEET; during a hike, avoid areas with tall grass; constantly look at your feet so as not to step in a puddle.
While on the beach, if you suddenly feel any sting, immediately move to another place that is well lit by the sun. Sand fleas, like many other parasites, prefer shady places and do not crawl out into the sun. You can also not be afraid of these pests while swimming in sea water.
About flea bites
At the moment of the bite, the victim feels a stabbing pain and severe itching. The bite site itself swells a little, and slight swelling appears. The reaction to flea bites can be different, it all depends on the individual and his health. For some, the symptoms go away easily and quickly, while for others, the wound is very itchy for a long time after the bite; this may mean the onset of pulicosis
. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.
When the flea eats and falls off, a small hematoma forms at the site of the wound, the blood is baked and the wound heals. The only way to protect yourself from parasite bites is to completely destroy them in your home and follow preventive measures when traveling outdoors.
How to treat parasite bites
There is no special treatment for flea bites, unless, of course, the insect has penetrated the skin.
To relieve itching, you need to use any anesthetic cream. If suspicious swelling appears at the site of the bite, you should immediately go to the hospital. Most likely, the parasite got under the skin and began to take root there.
If you have a severe allergy with fever and rash, you must go to the clinic, and even before that take some antihistamines.
Getting rid of a sand flea that has penetrated the skin is extremely difficult. Many people try to pull out the parasite on their own with a knife or needle, but it is still better not to do this, but to seek help from doctors.
The fact is that, as previously noted, after penetrating the skin, the insect immediately makes its way close to the blood vessel and if it is accidentally crushed, then the entire contents of the pest will enter the blood.
Diseases carried by fleas
As mentioned earlier, fleas are carriers and pathogens of dangerous diseases, some of which can be fatal. And so, a list of diseases carried by fleas:
- Typhoid
- Bubonic plague
- Encephalitis
- Hepatitis B and C
- Toxocariasis
- Tularemia
To avoid such dire consequences for your health, carefully ensure that your home is free of fleas and other parasites. If found, be sure to get rid of them and visit a doctor.
Do aerosols help control fleas?
Modern aerosols act precisely and allow you to instantly destroy the flea population. You will see a noticeable effect already in the process of treating the room. As a result, after airing your home, you can simply sweep the insects into a dustpan and throw them in a trash bag.
Using aerosols, you can treat even the most hard-to-reach places where it is impossible to wipe the surface with a washcloth or mop. We are talking about corners, the back of furniture in rooms, cracks between baseboards and walls. Their use is especially effective when there are fleas in the flooring and upholstered furniture.
Their advantage is also its main disadvantage. The targeted action of the aerosol complicates its use over a large area affected by fleas. Of course, you can try and treat a spacious 3-room apartment with flea sprays, but for this you will need not 1, but several bottles of insecticide.
Moreover, it is difficult to kill all fleas in the house at once using an aerosol. Therefore, those insects that were able to survive develop immunity to the drug. When re-treating the house after 1-2 weeks, it must be changed, otherwise all your actions will be useless, and fleas will again begin to actively reproduce.
The composition of aerosols that are used to destroy these blood-sucking parasites must certainly contain at least 1 of the following components, namely:
- Permethrin - this synthetic insecticide is often used to make preparations for treating indoor insects.
- Pyrethrin is a naturally occurring substance extracted from chamomile flowers. It is deadly to fleas at any stage of development. At the same time, it is absolutely harmless to pets and people.
- Chlorpyrifos and piperonyl butoxide - this additional component is found in many flea products and enhances their effect.
- Fipronil is a substance artificially synthesized and approved for use in the treatment of both premises and pet hair.
If fleas appear in the house from time to time, you should not use the same type of aerosol every time. Insects will gradually develop immunity to it, and the drug will simply stop working on them.
Methods for getting rid of fleas in an apartment
If pests do appear in your home, then it is better to use chemical-based products, this will help you get rid of pests as efficiently and quickly as possible. Fleas are physically unable to eat bait, so this method will not be effective. To combat fleas, sprays, aerosols, and powders are used - these products deal a strong blow to the nervous system of pests.
While treating a room with aerosols, it is better for residents of the house to leave the room, and after treatment, the room should be well ventilated and cleaned thoroughly. Today the best means are:
- Aerosol "Raptor". It has a mild mint scent, is non-toxic, and effectively fights parasites. To treat a small one-bedroom apartment, two cylinders will be enough.
- "Sinuzan" is a good professional product, effective, but has a significant drawback - a strong unpleasant odor.
- “Biorin” is also a professional product that helps in the fight not only against fleas, but also against other parasites.
After you complete the treatment of the room, do not forget to do high-quality wet cleaning and ventilation. As a preventive measure, you must always keep your home clean and tidy, because dust, dirt and debris are the main causes of fleas in your home.
Folk remedies for pest control
Neglecting the basic rules of hygiene and caring for pets leads to the fact that they will bring parasites into the house. But if you have just noticed insects, there is a good chance of dealing with them using traditional methods.
Fleas cannot always be found on the fur of dogs or cats. If they drink enough blood, they then jump onto the carpet, onto the floor, and into cracks in the walls and behind baseboards.
If you find fleas in the house, try to remove them with folk remedies. This is acceptable if at the moment you do not have the opportunity to use strong insecticides. To do this you can:
- Thoroughly wash pets' mattresses or bedding in hot water and flea shampoo. Then you can put a small amount of pine sawdust inside - insects cannot stand their smell.
- Treat floor coverings and carpets with a mixture based on brewer's yeast and finely chopped garlic. The pungent, unpleasant odor repels fleas and guarantees a long-lasting effect. This mixture should be sprinkled on the area affected by fleas, and after 9 hours, go over the treated surfaces with a vacuum cleaner.
- Use regular baking soda and salt - a mixture of these components can be sprinkled on the floor and carpets. Leave them in this form for 12 hours, and then vacuum them thoroughly.
- Use a strong decoction of wormwood; it is suitable for wet cleaning in the house. For its preparation, fresh or dry leaves of the plant are used. You need to add finely shaved laundry soap to the prepared broth. Wash the floors with the finished product, not forgetting to thoroughly wipe the baseboards to destroy flea eggs and pupae.
- Thoroughly dry out blankets, bedspreads, pillows and leave them outside for several hours to avoid re-breeding of fleas.
- Sprinkle a mixture of pine shavings and wormwood in front of the threshold of a house or apartment; its aroma repels fleas.
- If fleas appear on the sleeping area, place a bunch of lavender and mint under the mattress. This aromatic composition will get rid of parasites and create a comfortable atmosphere for relaxing at night.
Harm caused
Female fleas of the genus Tunga cause the tropical parasitic disease sarcopsillosis , or tungiasis. Particularly high incidence rates are recorded in Nigeria, Trinidad, Tobago and Brazil. The peak incidence is recorded in September, and the minimum in January. The incubation period covers five stages and lasts about twelve days.
After fertilization, females are able to attach to the skin on a person’s legs and almost instantly penetrate the soft skin of the interdigital folds, under the nails and into the ankle area, and then are completely immersed in the epidermis. There, sand fleas feed on blood for 10 days and acquire a spherical shape with a diameter of five millimeters. The protruding end of the body remains visible on the surface of the skin. In a few weeks, the female is capable of laying several thousand eggs. Once in sandy soil, they continue their development cycle. The death of the parasite may be accompanied by the development of sepsis in the sick person.
The sand flea moves quickly in search of a damp place on the human body. A particular favorite spot is socks. Even if you take off your clothes, this will not help get rid of the flea - it lives there for several days. Once a suitable skin area is found, the adult injects a liquid containing enzymes into it. Thus, the cells turn into a food mixture. Eggs will be laid in the skin depression formed after the meal.
Primary infestation is manifested by severe irritation and itching. This occurs when the flea reaches the final stage of development. The area of skin may become ulcerated and inflamed.
If the site of penetration is the subungual bed, then the result is the formation of an abscess, and if the female dies at the site of penetration, a secondary infection develops. The result can be tetanus or gangrene, which can lead to amputation of the finger.
If there is a furry friend living in the house
Most often, fleas enter an apartment on the fur of pets. Therefore, first of all, you need to think about how you can remove fleas from a cat or dog. This is important because there is a high probability that, after treating all the lower surfaces, fleas will continue to multiply, parasitizing the animal, and then spreading more and more throughout the apartment. It is advisable to treat the apartment and the animal at the same time, this way there is a greater chance of success. After all, the period of residual activity of the drug applied to floors and walls will not have time to end, and will be active against fleas all that time.
There are several ways to treat an animal for fleas:
- going to the vet;
- special drops (“Bars”, “Frontline”, “Advantage”);
- flea collars;
- anti-flea shampoos;
- sprays - insecticides;
- folk remedies;
- injections and tablets.
How are residential premises treated?
Flea treatment is carried out using special means or traditional methods.
Larvae can be destroyed using the same means as adults. List of the most popular methods and means:
Some drugs destroy larvae, but are unable to fight adult fleas (dust).
The larvae can live in hard-to-reach places where it is impossible to pour powdered insecticide or reach it with an aerosol.
Fleas are destroyed by herbs (tansy, wormwood, thyme), but after several treatments the parasites get used to the herbal remedies, and they lose their effect.
Methods for preventing bites
- In endemic regions, wild, dirty and neglected beaches should be avoided.
- Do not lie on the sand, use sun loungers or thick bedding.
- After each visit to the beach, conduct a self-examination, paying special attention to the “favorite” areas of the parasite - feet and fingers.
- Use repellents.
- Wear closed shoes, socks, long pants.
- After a walk, you should thoroughly wash your feet in warm water - this simple measure reduces the risk of the parasite penetrating the skin.
Sand fleas most often attack locals walking barefoot and careless tourists who are unfamiliar with the fauna of the region where they are vacationing. To avoid negative consequences from your vacation, you should check with your guide or tour operator in advance about possible risks. Timely diagnosis and seeking medical help guarantee a quick recovery.
The procedure for processing things and apartments
Before you start treating your apartment with special insecticides against fleas, you need to prepare, namely, do a general cleaning, otherwise disinfestation may be ineffective, and pests will very soon reappear in your home.
Attention! If you have animals at home, you first need to wash and treat their fur, and only then take care of the apartment. In this case, you need to carefully read the instructions for use of the drugs, because those remedies that are suitable for one animal are completely contraindicated for another. For example, chemicals for dogs containing permethrins can be fatal in cats.
To rid your apartment of basement fleas, first of all, you should wash the floors and baseboards very thoroughly. At the same time, pay close attention to places with high humidity, pantries and closets. Next, carefully vacuum all the cracks, corners, upholstered furniture and carpets, not forgetting the rug at the front door. Shake out the contents of the vacuum cleaner outside the apartment.
Bedding, mattresses and bedspreads, where linen fleas hide, must be knocked out or treated with a steam generator. Fabric products such as bed linen, curtains, contaminated clothing and slippers must be washed, preferably at a temperature of at least 60⁰C. It is also necessary to wash all outdoor shoes and throw away those things in which a large accumulation of eggs or adult pests was found.
Only after thorough cleaning, during which it is possible to get rid of most of the insect larvae, can you treat the room with the help of “heavy artillery” - pesticides or folk remedies in order to finally destroy all the fleas that have occupied the apartment.
