Little black insects jumping

Various types of small insects live in every house or apartment. Even if they don’t catch your eye, this does not mean they are absent. Many go out fishing only at night; the rest of the time they hide in the most remote places. These could be cracks, cavities between partitions, ventilation ducts, storerooms.

Some individuals that settle next to humans are absolutely harmless, but most bring a lot of trouble to their owners. They spoil things, food, and also bite. Many infectious diseases are also spread, therefore, having discovered the first signs of parasites in the house, you should quickly take control measures and actively get rid of intrusive guests.

Jumping insects in the apartment - names of species

What insects can jump in the house? Among the small jumping species, especially if you encounter them during the day, fleas are very common. They look like small black dots that are constantly in motion. More than 1000 species of these bloodsuckers are known. In an apartment you can often encounter cat, dog, rat or bird fleas. As a rule, they prefer to parasitize domestic animals, but if necessary, they can easily change their host. They also do not disdain human blood.

Bites cause pain, sometimes accompanied by allergic reactions, often affecting young children. In addition, the constant change of host contributes to the transmission of dangerous pathogens of various diseases and infections. Some of them are fatal to people and pets. It is better to get rid of fleas as soon as possible, otherwise your home will be filled with entire colonies. For information on what remedies are available for insect bites for adults and children, read the article:

Black jumping insects in the apartment

The main distinguishing feature of small jumping vampires is that, having had enough of the blood of a person or animal, they safely leave their victim. Thanks to their black color, they can be easily spotted during the day. Favorite places for parasites are pet mattresses, trash cans, corners, baseboards, and various hard-to-reach places where they build their nests.

In terms of external signs, a flea bite is practically no different from the bites of other insects. It is characterized by redness with slight swelling; the puncture site itself is not visible, but hemorrhage can be observed in the center. The photo clearly shows fresh skin lesions even after a few hours.

Jumping insects in the apartment reasons for their appearance

The main ways of spreading small jumping fleas inside apartments include the following:

Pets are the first carriers of fleas.
People who bring parasites on clothes and shoes.
Independent entry into a home from the basement, especially on the first floors.

What causes insects in the bathroom and kitchen?

Among the insects that prefer to settle inside the bathroom or toilet, you can observe silverfish, butterflies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, wood lice, centipedes, and midges. They love warm, humid rooms; this microclimate is very favorable for their life and active reproduction.

Some of them may move into kitchens and pantries in order to profit, which leads to spoilage of food supplies. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of these pests in a timely manner using proven methods and means.

Effective insecticides to control midges

But, in some cases, the use of folk remedies only temporarily rids the houseplant of parasites. Time passes, they appear again. Therefore, in order to forget about flower flies forever, it is recommended to resort to the use of chemicals. There are both liquid insecticides, which can be sprayed and watered, and granular ones, intended for mixing with the soil.

It is best to opt for safe drugs. When processing plants, be sure to use personal protective equipment.

The liquid and safest insecticides include “ Agravertin ”, “ Fitoverm ”, “ Fufanon ”, “ Aktara ”, “ Inta-vir ”. These chemicals can be used at home. The course of treatment is carried out over two weeks. Watering the plant is done once a week. After the plant has been watered with an insecticide, it is not advisable to water it with clean water for 5 days.

Dangerous liquid insecticides include Actellik , which has very high toxicity. Its use is prohibited in residential premises.

Granular insecticides include “ Bazudin ”, “ Grom-2 ”, “ Fly-eater ”. The main thing is to mix the granules with the top layer of soil, and not just scatter them on top of the ground. These insecticides do not act as quickly, but they are just as effective as liquid ones.

Do not forget that absolutely all chemicals are toxic. When processing plants, you must wear gloves, safety glasses and a respirator. After work, be sure to ventilate the room.

Bona Forte ), which can paralyze flying pests in an instant, are considered very effective and easy to use Aerosol and spray consist of substances that are harmless to humans and the environment.

Small insects in the apartment bite and jump, how to get rid of them?

Before you start getting rid of small jumping individuals that systematically bite you, it is important to find out where they are getting into the apartment, in what places they are hiding, select a high-quality insecticide for control, and be sure to poison fleas from pets.

How to get rid of insects in an apartment - methods and means

First of all, you should treat all carpets, children's toys, upholstered furniture, and also do not forget to disinfect the walls inside the room (up to 1 m in height). Thoroughly wash all corners, niches, window sills, baseboards, using modern insecticidal preparations. Wash slippers and other textile items.

Jumping insects in the apartment cannot tolerate various pungent odors. For this purpose, vinegar, ammonia, kerosene, denatured alcohol, and chlorine-containing agents can be added to the water for washing floors. To get rid of bloodsuckers, you can also use a method based on laying out repellent plants in places where they are most concentrated. It can be:

The most effective insect repellent in the apartment

Among the most effective and popular means with which you can quickly get rid of small jumping parasites are:

microencapsulated Get;
Delta Zone;
Lambda Zone;
Executioner;
Karbofos.

There are also traditional methods of getting rid of fleas, bedbugs, moths, ants, cockroaches and other insects in the apartment.

There are times when you wake up in the morning and find marks of insect bites on your body. Or food items in the refrigerator appear spoiled ahead of time. Uninvited neighbors ruin your whole life. But where did they come from and how to deal with them? Let's try to figure it out.

What do parasites look like?

Fleas appear black only at first glance. In reality, their body has a dark brown color, which is darker in hungry insects, and lighter in those that have drunk blood. The size of the adult varies from 2 to 5 mm, the oval body looks like a flaxseed. The segments of the body and legs are covered with hard bristles, with the help of which parasites cling to the fur and feathers of animals and birds.

Fleas can jump up to 30-50 cm in height, so it is not difficult for them to climb onto a cat or dog that is out for a walk. Insects feed only on blood and freely change hosts, migrating from one animal to another. They do not disdain human blood.

Appearance of fleas.

Jumping insects in the apartment - names of species

So, there can be a lot of pests in an apartment; let’s look at the most common types.

Jumping midges

No matter how strange it may sound, jumping midges really exist. They settle in damp places, places where dust accumulates and dark areas of your apartment. Such insects do not pose a major threat to human health.

Midges living on indoor plants. Such pests leave their eggs on leaves and stems, from which parasitic offspring subsequently hatch. Such midges parasitize plant roots.
Midges from the sewer. These insects climb through sewer pipes and enter the apartment through a faucet or drain.
Kitchen midges. They appear at the site of spoiled foods, subsequently eating unspoiled ones. They reproduce very quickly. All rotten food must be thrown away.

Black jumping insects in the apartment

Another type of jumping insect is fleas. Unlike midges, fleas can cause severe harm to human health.

Fleas

In most cases, small jumping insects in the apartment are fleas. Of all the pests that can enter an apartment and bite a person, fleas are the most common. Such insects usually live for a long time. They have no need to hibernate. Eggs are laid in dusty places, narrow crevices, dark corners of an apartment or bathtub.

Fleas are the absolute winners in the “Most Jumping” category. They are considered medium-sized pests that can jump up to 40 cm. For comparison, if a person had such legs, he could jump a distance of 170 m.

Jumping insects in the apartment reasons for their appearance

Small pests for the most part live in the fresh air, but if there is some room nearby, then most likely they will move there with the onset of cold weather or when conditions are favorable for themselves (for humans, these are, as a rule, not the most pleasant conditions - dirt , mold, unpleasant odor).
When purchasing furniture in a warehouse, there may be clusters of bedbugs. They penetrate into the folds of furniture and settle there if items are not stored correctly.
With animals. Small parasites attach themselves to the animal's fur and subsequently enter the apartment.
Also in industrial equipment warehouses, insects can penetrate laptops, microwave ovens, and tablets.
In places where spoiled products appear.

What causes insects in the bathroom and kitchen?

The appearance of pests in the bathroom depends on sewage drains or leaking pipes. Therefore, it is necessary to keep your bathroom clean and tidy. All cracks and holes must be covered with a special solution.

Midges and other parasites appear in the kitchen the moment they realize they have something to eat. They can also get into your apartment through the ventilation, if your neighbors have such a problem.

Record holders for jumping among arthropods

Often it is children who wonder which insect jumps the furthest, eager to learn something new from the animal world. But some adults are not averse to expanding their horizons and finding out which insect jumps the farthest.

Most of the jumping animals are known even to a first-grader: cheetahs, kangaroos, pumas and other big cats. But not everyone has seen the list of jumping insects:

These babies, up to 7 mm long, are capable of jumping to a height of more than 60 cm. The unusual name of this pest comes from the characteristic marks that it leaves behind on the leaves of plants, similar to foam.

Fleas are agile little jumpers. The flea is capable of jumping 20 centimeters in height and covering a distance of up to 30 cm in length in one jump. If we compare it with a person, then, if he were the same jumper, he could easily jump onto a 140-meter tower.
Grasshoppers and locusts take bronze. These insects can jump distances up to 20 times their body length. Compared to the same flea, it is capable of covering distances hundreds of times longer than its body length!
Crickets, although they are jumping, are not that jumpy, but they can rightfully be considered one of the domestic jumping insects, since they like to settle next to people.
Midges are another jumping insect with transparent wings in the house. Their jumps are impressive, but incomparable with the same cicadas or fleas, so they complete the rating.

Small insects in the apartment bite and jump, how to get rid of them?

1. First, it is necessary to find out the cause of the appearance of insects and prevent it.
2. The next step is to completely wash all infected areas.
3. The final step is complete disinfection and prevention of further occurrence.

Detecting a pest infestation at an early stage will help prevent a more global epidemic. If the use of home methods does not help, it is necessary to urgently contact a special institution. Experimental treatment will be much more effective than home cleaning.

The composition for treating premises should include peritroids and insecticides containing phosphorus. At the correct concentration, these drugs will destroy all pests. But if used carelessly, poisoning or an allergic reaction in people or animals is possible.

Varieties of midges

Sewer midge

The following types of insects can live on flowerpots:

white midges - springtails. These insects most often appear on the surface of the soil or near the bottom of the stems of plants that have been watered too much. Most often they are discovered in winter or in the first half of spring, when moisture from flowerpots does not evaporate so intensely;
black midges - sciarids. They are not dangerous to humans, but can cause poor growth or death of the flower. Larvae are laid in the ground, which negatively affect the root system of the flowerpot.

How to get rid of insects in an apartment - methods and means

You can control pests in your apartment using both store-bought products and home methods. The difference is that removing pests using your own methods is safer for your health.

Home control methods:

A mixture of soda and salt. It is necessary to mix in equal proportions and scatter in corners and pest habitats.

Lemon solution. A whole lemon per liter of water, you can grind it in a meat grinder or finely chop it and dilute it in water. The resulting liquid must be sprayed onto all infected areas.

Natural herbs. There is a certain list of herbs that when mixed you will get an excellent poison for insects:

1. Plant extracts (rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus)
2. Geranium, mint, rosemary can be placed in dark corners of cabinets to prevent further infection.

As for artificial remedies, it is best to contact your local hardware store, where they will most likely recommend something suitable for you.

Gel-based putties. Typically used to treat holes and crevices in hard-to-reach places. Good for removing damp lovers.
Scent traps. Good for pests that can move from place to place at fast speeds.
Aerosol preparations. This is a universal remedy that will help in removing all types of insects. A fairly quick but also dangerous method for health. (“Raptor”, “Raid”).

The most effective insect repellent in the apartment

There is a certain list of drugs that work better than others and here is their list:

GET is one of the most common insect repellents. It is not harmful to human health, as it is odorless and has a contact effect. The price is average, about 700 rubles.
Tetrix is another popular drug, but unlike the previous product, Tetrix is not intended for household use. This drug is very expensive and quite difficult to find, but with its help you can treat more than one apartment. The likelihood of being poisoned by this drug if used inappropriately is quite high.
Clean house. This product is a regular aerosol. This drug has a very strong, unpleasant odor, so people with an increased allergic reaction need to be careful.
Battalion commander This is a Korean aerosol that has an extremely pleasant smell. It's inexpensive and very easy to use. If you choose from all the means considered today, Combat will be that golden mean.
Raptor. I think that many of you have already encountered this tool. It is quite common in Russia. It can be found in almost all hardware stores.
Mosquitall. Its advantage is that this drug is produced not only as a spray, but also in the form of tablets, powder, and dry perfume.

Ways to get rid of midges in house plants

There are many ways to get rid of these harmful parasites - both chemical and folk. To get rid of insects, you should resort to the following measures.

First of all, when flower midges are detected, it is necessary to remove the affected flower away from other plants.

Flower soil in which insects have already settled should be thrown away. The flower is removed from the pot, the root system is washed and the already treated plant is transplanted into disinfected soil. There is an option to replace the top layer of soil.

If it is not possible to change the affected soil, it is recommended to treat it with an insecticide. More effective drugs against flower flies include Fitoverm , Aktara , Tanrek . Flycatcher insecticide , which is available in granules, is also effective in combating annoying midges.

If there are not too many pests yet, then fly sticky tape hung next to the flower pots will help catch them.

If there are already a lot of insects, then it is recommended to use aerosol preparations for destruction, such as Dichlorvos and Raptor . By lightly spraying the product, treat window sills, shelves, and walls located near house plants. Plus, the soil in the flower pot and its bottom. The result of the treatment will be the death of adult individuals and their eggs laid in the ground.

Another good remedy for midges is to reduce the number of waterings of the flower that has been affected by parasites. Dry soil will contribute to the death of the larvae.

Still, the best way to combat midges is to follow all the rules for the care and maintenance of house plants.

Appearance and structure of fleas

Small jumping bloodsuckers have a fairly characteristic appearance and, even despite their small size, are easily distinguished from other insects. They have a narrow, laterally flattened body 2-5 mm long. Its color is brown, almost black, the surface of the chitinous shell is smooth and shiny. Under a microscope, you can see individual spines and hairs on the flea’s body:

The legs of the last, rear pair are significantly enlarged and have powerful muscles. Thanks to them, these small insects are able to jump far, as a result of which they easily move between shelters in an apartment, and in case of danger they jump so quickly that the jump itself is not noticed by the human eye.

Fleas are the insect world record holders for jumping ability. An average individual with a body length of 3 mm can jump a distance of 30 cm, that is, 100 times its length. If humans had such abilities, it would be normal for a person to jump 160 meters in length.

The eyes of fleas are simple, almost non-functional. Fleas receive basic information about the environment using small antennas and a special sensory organ capable of detecting air vibrations.

Generally speaking, fleas are winged insects, and their lack of wings is an adaptation to a parasitic lifestyle. Without wings, it is easier for them to move in the fur and elude the teeth of their victims.

Description of black flea beetles

Fleas are the collective name for many species of arthropod insects. A human black flea usually lives in the house. Despite its small size (only up to 3 cm), it has enviable jumping ability, covering a distance of up to 50 cm in one jump and reaching a height of 30 cm.

Fleas are extremely hardy and can easily withstand extreme cold and warm temperatures. But the optimal temperature for fleas is between 18 and 26 degrees. Black fleas are much more sensitive to air humidity: if it drops below 70%, then larvae will not hatch from the eggs.

From whom and how do fleas suck blood?

Fleas are capable of feeding on a wide variety of hosts, from birds and bats to humans and cattle. Unlike other blood-sucking parasites, fleas do not have strict specialization and easily move from one host to another.

Moreover, a flea that bit a person today could have fed on a rat or dog a few days ago. And on her body, in her mouth or intestines, there may be viruses and bacteria that she collects from all her food sources.

The oral apparatus of fleas is of the piercing-sucking type; it is equipped with special bristles with which the insect easily pierces the skin. However, due to the relatively small size of the jaws, the flea is forced to literally plunge its head into the skin in order to reach a blood vessel:

Fleas feed mainly during the day, so they can easily be seen jumping around in an apartment during daylight hours. When attacked, the insect usually makes several bites at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. Usually their traces are lined up in a chain, which is why flea bites can sometimes be confused with bedbug bites.

Harm from black fleas

Despite their modest size, black fleas in the house are very annoying to all family members and animals with painful bites. This is a blood-sucking parasite that, when the skin is damaged, injects a special substance that can cause a severe allergic reaction. It is because of this that the bite site turns red and begins to itch very much.

If the skin is very itchy after a flea bite, then antihistamines should be used to alleviate the condition.

Also, fleas, coming into contact with the blood of different people, can carry infections and infect humans with them. For example, plague and anthrax. Any parasites in the house are a violation of cleanliness and hygiene. Flea waste products and dirt carried on their paws create a favorable environment for the proliferation of harmful bacteria.

How dangerous are jumping bloodsuckers?

In the process of biting, the small jumping bloodsucker pierces the skin, simultaneously injecting excreta of the salivary glands under the skin, which causes irritation and itching on the victim’s body. In some cases, irritation can reach the size of an allergic reaction and is called pulicosis. In this case, the affected area involves the mucous membranes (the appearance of ulcers and abscesses), the lymphatic (swelling of the lymph nodes) and even the nervous system.

However, the greatest danger lies in the ability of fleas to carry pathogens of various diseases. Plague, encephalitis, tularemia, erysipeloid, pseudotuberculosis, brucellosis, melioidosis, pasteurellosis, anthrax, typhus - this is only a short list of diseases that a jumping blood-sucking insect can give a person.

Prevention methods

To prevent the appearance of midges, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Don't water the plants too heavily. This is especially true during the cold period of the year, when moisture slowly evaporates from the soil.

Disinfection of the premises helps in the fight against midges
Place expanded clay, river pebbles, charcoal and river sand at the bottom of the pot for planting indoor flowers to ensure drainage.
If you bought a new flowerpot at the store, transplant it into another pot. When doing this, be sure to clean the roots of the plant. Also use a ready-made substrate that contains the optimal ratio of mineral endorsements.
The soil for planting indoor flowers must be steamed in a water bath for several minutes.
Place mosquito nets on the windows, especially on hot days. This will protect the flowerpots from pests that can fly in from the street.

Adhesive tape in flowerpots
The pot for planting house plants must be doused with boiling water.
It is recommended to cover the surface of the soil of indoor flowers with small pebbles, marble or granite chips. This will prevent pests from multiplying because they will not be able to lay eggs.
Periodically loosen the soil to ensure uniform evaporation of moisture.
Inspect the flowerpot regularly, remove dried flowers, leaves, and stems. If they fall to the surface of the ground, be sure to clean the soil to prevent rotting.
To feed plants, use only ready-made mineral fertilizers. The use of humus, infusion from onion peels or egg shells is strictly prohibited.

It will be very easy to get rid of midges if you follow these recommendations and use one of the above remedies.

What to do if parasites are jumping in the apartment

If jumping blood-sucking insects are found in the apartment, you should follow the following sequence of actions:

first establish the source of infection;
then treat the animals;
then treat the entire room.

There are usually two main sources of infection: fleas are either brought from the street by pets or family members (on clothing), or fleas themselves enter the apartment from basements and attics, where they initially parasitize rats or, less commonly, birds.

Pets should be treated in accordance with their age and health status. For young animals, as well as animals weakened by disease, specialized preparations of mild, slightly toxic action should be used.

Shampoo gets rid of existing fleas, but does not protect against the appearance of new ones, so after bathing you should use a flea collar.
The use of sprays requires a 2-3 hour wait after treatment, then the animal must be thoroughly washed. The residual effect of the spray allows you to do without the use of collars.
Read also: Fleas on a cat: signs and how to deal with insects
Drops are applied pointwise to the withers, less often along the spine. They may not wash off for several days and continue to act for a long time.

After treating the animal, the main thing is to ensure its protection from fleas in the room. Otherwise, some of the jumping parasites will still end up on the fur, and after exterminating the insects in the apartment, some of them may survive on the animal.

Dog and cat bedding is subject to mandatory treatment and ventilation: a large number of adult fleas and flea eggs are concentrated in them. You can even find developing larvae - legless, worm-like, translucent creatures of a yellowish-brown color up to 4 mm in length:

The flea distribution area covers the floor and walls at waist level. Beds, wall and floor carpets, and soft toys are at risk. Insects feel at ease in warm and moist crevices, under the floor, behind the baseboard - in those places where dust accumulates the most. Under these conditions, the eggs develop quickly, and the parasites safely pass through all stages of development.

The actual treatment of the apartment from jumping insects occurs in the following sequence

All inhabitants, including pets, are removed from the house.
Soft items should be thoroughly vacuumed to remove dust before treatment.
The floor surface also needs to be vacuumed and wet cleaned.
According to the instructions, spray the drug itself.
Leave the room in this state for several hours to consolidate the result.
Before returning people and animals to the house, the apartment should be thoroughly ventilated and, if necessary, washed surfaces.

If there are a lot of fleas in the apartment, one treatment may not be enough. In this case, the treatment must be repeated after 2 weeks.

Where do black fleas live in the house?

Parasites live in animal fur, as well as in places where pets rest: in bedding, in beds, in houses. Eggs and larvae can be found on soft toys, on sofas and armchairs, on carpets, in nooks near baseboards, in floors and walls. If the bathroom is constantly damp and humid, accumulations of adults and larvae can be seen near sinks and shower stalls.

Fleas live in sofas.

Basement fleas: danger and specifics of control

The so-called basement fleas, which often penetrate apartments on the first floors, are the most dangerous. They often parasitize rats and can carry pathogens of serious human diseases.

It was rat fleas that caused deadly epidemics of bubonic plague in medieval Europe. Because of them, according to various estimates, up to 60 million people died over several years.

If fleas come into the apartment from the basement, then even high-quality treatment of the living space will only give a temporary effect. It is necessary to remove parasites first of all where they are most numerous - in the basement. Treating the basement yourself, especially in an apartment building, can be quite difficult, and it is more rational to call special pest control services to destroy parasites.

And finally: the most reliable protection against fleas is prevention. The main preventative measure is to protect pets from fleas on the street. Pets should not be allowed near stray dogs and cats; after a walk in the field, they should be thoroughly combed, and in the summer, collars should be put on them.

To protect the premises from fleas that penetrate here on their own, it is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning with the addition of wormwood decoction to the water, and hang insect repellent sections near windows and entrance doors. This will significantly reduce the risk of flea infestation.

Flea removers

Flea killers are divided into two types. The former are intended for treating animals and usually contain low concentrations of insecticides. With the help of the latter, premises are treated to completely destroy fleas, and these preparations mostly contain insecticides in fairly high concentrations, so they are not suitable for baiting fleas on pets.

Preparations for the treatment of animals are produced mainly in the following forms:

drops on the withers - the most famous of them are Stronghold, Hartz, Bars, Frontline
flea sprays – Hartz, Blokhnet, Advantix, Bayer
anti-flea collars – Kiltix, Bars, Bolfo, Hartz
flea shampoos - Lugovoy, Fitoelita, Rolf Club.

To get rid of fleas on animals with normal hair, sprays or drops are usually used on the withers. Shampoos are well suited for pets with very sensitive skin and long hair. Collars are often used not to kill insects on an already infected pet, but to protect the animal from their attack (parasites can easily jump on a cat or dog unprotected by a collar, for example, on the street).

The composition of indoor treatment products mainly includes organophosphorus insecticides and pyrethroids. When used correctly, they cause the death of all insects in the room, but if handled carelessly, they can cause allergies and poisoning in humans and pets.

The most effective and accessible of these remedies are Get, Lambda Zone, Delta Zone, Executioner, Cucaracha, Chlorpirimak, Forsyth, Tetrix, Karbofos, etc.

Review
“In the summer at the dacha, the child was bitten by everyone. I arrived and saw that my arms and legs were all swollen. Yes, I was bitten too, especially when I slept during the day. My sister immediately identified the fleas because they were jumping. They immediately rushed to treat the cats. They washed them, put the collars on - nothing. The fleas began to jump around the house no less, even more. I had to treat the whole house with Karbofos. They opened the basement, and it was absolutely terrible. In general, we were exhausted, but at least we had a good rest for the last month of summer.”
Elena Anatolyevna, Cheboksary

It is also useful to read: How to deal with small insects in the bathroom and toilet

And one more thing: Ultrasonic insect repellers are just a dummy (the article has more)

Preventive measures

To prevent black fleas from appearing in your apartment, you need to block their entry routes:

Regularly inspect the fur of pets, check for possible accumulation of ectoparasites on the stomach, neck and under the paws.
Periodically treat cats and dogs with flea repellents and insecticides (Advantix, Barrier, Bars, Dana, Celandine, Frontline). Let animals go outside only wearing anti-flea collars.
Dry bedding annually in direct sunlight.
At least 1-3 times a quarter, carry out general cleaning with thorough cleaning and washing of all surfaces.
Avoid dampness in the room.
Carefully seal gaps and cracks in floors, walls and under baseboards.

You can verify the presence of parasites using a simple test: place several sheets of stationery paper in the problem area. If after a while small dark insects start jumping on it, you need to urgently start fighting them.

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