Fleas - a large detachment of blood-sucking (hematophagous) insects, which includes more than 2000 species of fleas. In the sediments of the last epoch of the Paleocene period, imprints of relict arthropods are found, which indicates the antiquity of these insects. More than 30 million years ago, with a cooling climate, new species of warm-blooded animals appeared on the planet - horses, pigs, rabbits, camels, etc.
Together with them, a species of blood-sucking insects arose, which parasitized on warm-blooded animals. But even earlier, in the Cretaceous period, "false fleas" were parasites on pterosaurs - giant insects very similar to modern microscopic parasites. How the fleas of the era of flying dinosaurs look like can be seen in the photo.
Prehistoric fleas
The appearance and structure of fleas
A flea is a blood-sucking parasite that feeds on the blood of animals and even humans. The average size of an insect is 5-8 mm. It can only be examined under a microscope, but to determine how much does a flea weigh - only with the help of special electronic scales, since its average weight is only 0.03 grams.
The flea's body is elongated and flattened. She has 3 pairs of limbs, the hind ones are much longer than the front ones. Fleas do not have wings, they move by jumping. The color ranges from light yellow to black. The body is covered with bristles - with their help it is easier for a flea to stay on the coat. There is a pygidium on the abdomen - a special organ that responds to air vibrations.
Flea description would be incomplete without a detailed examination of the oral apparatus. It is a piercing-sucking type, consists of stylets: strong sharp jaw outgrowths that replace teeth. With the help of stilettos, the flea pierces the skin and expands the wound. Having let saliva into the wound, the insect plunges inside to get to the vein. The process of saturation with blood lasts from 1 min. up to 3-4 hours.
Where do fleas live?
To represent in detail, what are fleas, you need to know about the peculiarities of the existence of insects in nature. Fleas live on all continents, are active at any time of the year and easily adapt to changeable weather conditions. This makes them practically invulnerable and able to survive in conditions in which other blood-sucking insects die.
The main habitat of a flea is grass nests, stalls and bedding of livestock, loose earth, deposits of stones. Some types of parasites live in the dwelling most of the time and leave it only for food. Others are forced to constantly be on the body of the animal.
Common types
People don't even know how many flea species exist in nature. There are so many of them that some are still not fully understood.
Insects are usually classified according to the type of host:
- human;
- feline;
- doggy;
- rat.
But this does not mean that parasites have a species preference. Human fleas will happily bite domestic and wild animals. The only type of blood-sucking parasite that remains faithful to the owner to the end is insects that parasitize bats.
They belong to the small, isolated group Ischnopsyllidae - bats' fleas.
Rare flea species are constantly on the surface of the victim's body. The rest can live on bedding, in burrows, bird nests.They jump on the owner only when necessary, with severe hunger.
Varieties of fleas living in the apartment
Many people often have a question, what kind of fleas are in a person's dwelling. Almost all species can live here. Inside the apartment you can find cat, dog, rat parasites.
Some names of insects were invented, for example, "indoor", but this is not a separate existing species, but brought in by cats, dogs, rodents.
And it is impossible to answer exactly which fleas exist in the house, because different types of parasites can live in the room, which can infect pets and people. In addition, they pose a great danger to human health.
When bitten, parasites can carry a dangerous infection, which can subsequently cause various diseases.
Fleas in an apartment can often be found in the following places:
- on the bedding and beds of pets;
- carpets and coverings that have a pile on the surface;
- sofas, armchairs;
- in bed linen;
- cracks in walls and floors;
- old things, rubbish;
- between the skirting boards.
Also, many species that live in the apartment can be found in the fur of animals (dogs or cats). But they do not live on the human body.
Human
Among the large number of blood-sucking parasites, there are human parasites. For them, the preferred food source is humans. In appearance, they are no different from their fellows. Like other jumping, bloodsuckers do not constantly parasitize on the human body.
Bloodsuckers are often found on the surface of the body, which is covered with hair. You can feel an unpleasant bite, but it is not always possible to detect and crush the parasite. The insect has a small body size, almost imperceptibly, quickly moves over long distances.
What diseases are carried by fleas that bite people:
- plague;
- encephalitis;
- anthrax;
- helminthiasis.
After a bite, a number of unpleasant symptoms occur:
- rashes in the area of the bite;
- the formation of ulcers inside the mouth and throat;
- increased body temperature;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- development of migraine;
- sleep disorder.
Human fleas usually attack humans and feed on blood. However, in the absence of a food source, parasites can attack pets. During this, the bloodsucker jumps on the victim, pierces the skin, and sucks out the blood. After saturation, it quickly leaves the body.
Fleas can live at home. They can be found everywhere - on furniture, in things, linen, carpets, rugs.
Insects do not live permanently on the surface of the human or animal body.
Feline
Fleas in the home are often found in the presence of cats or cats. These insects often attack animals, especially during warm seasons. They can pick them up while walking on the street, get infected from other animals.
Small bloodsuckers actively make their way through the coat and begin to suck blood. With a large number, the cat behaves restlessly, she does not eat, does not sleep well, is in a state of confusion.
In addition to changes in behavior, the animal has other signs that are associated with a change in appearance:
- the coat becomes dull, crumpled, this is due to the fact that the animal is constantly itching;
- near the roots on the wool you can see small grains in the form of dandruff - flea eggs;
- swelling, blisters, redness, and scratches form on the surface of the skin.
This condition can lead to the fact that the infection quickly enters the bloodstream and cause the development of dangerous health complications.
Doggy
This flea species prefers to attack dogs. A pet can become infected with parasites while walking on the street, pick up from other animals.Even those household inhabitants who do not go outside, but walk on the balcony or in the arms of their owners, are also at risk of infection with parasites.
Insects can get inside the house on the clothes and shoes of the owners.
Signs of infection with bloodsuckers include:
- the animal is constantly itching;
- tries to lick or reach parasites with his teeth;
- whines in a dream;
- decreased appetite;
- severe irritability
- the dog may have worms and other unpleasant worms;
- dermatitis develops over time.
Video
Fleas in a dog's life
Rat
The rat flea lives exclusively on rats, it prefers to feed on the blood of its rodents. But sometimes they can pass on to other animals, birds, livestock, even people.
Rodents are not very clean. They often feed on dead meat, various garbage, and rot. This is what increases the risk of spreading dangerous infections, diseases that can lead to death.
Rat flea species are no different from other species - they are small in size, jump quickly, and bite strongly.
Chicken
Chicken and bird are two of the same names for fleas. They can affect wild and domestic birds in the chicken coop. Parasite infestation can occur from loose birds. Bloodsuckers crawl deep into the plumage, making them difficult to spot.
After the appearance of parasites, the behavior of birds changes, they become irritable, aggressive. Traces of bites and irritation appear on the surface of the skin. A person can pick up fleas by being near an infected chicken. But insects do not drink blood for long, and they do not linger inside the house.
Other varieties
There are also other species of fleas that live in nature.
They have not received widespread recognition, but it is still worth considering their main features:
- herbal flea. It has a small body, its length is about 3 mm. Prefers to dwell on shrubs, trees, grass. The apartment can be entered with the help of pets;
- earthen flea. Parasites of this species usually inhabit basements, the upper layers of the soil. They like places with high humidity, sometimes they can occur in apartments. They prefer to attack dogs, rats, cats, pets;
- sand flea. Prefers to dwell in the sands. Parasites are light in color because their shells are burned out by the sun. The birthplace of insects is Vietnam and Thailand. Bloodsuckers bite painfully on the legs, arms, buttocks. The bites are painful, they are accompanied by itching, and if an infection enters the wound, then suppuration may occur.
Flea reproduction, life cycle
At first, scientists doubted: is a flea an insect or not... Due to its small size, it became possible to examine the structural features of a flea and determine the main development cycles only through the use of a microscope. Scientists managed to identify 4 stages of the development of a flea, allowing it to be attributed to the insect kingdom:
- The egg is the first stage at which the body of the larva is formed inside the egg.
- Larva - the formed body leaves the egg shell to feed itself before the next phase of transformation.
- Pupa - the larva forms a cocoon, in which its body is completely transformed.
- Imago - an adult leaves the cocoon.
Most insects are bisexual: the species is subdivided into males and females. These types include flea. Picture or a schematic drawing will clearly show the parts of the insect's body: a narrow flattened body, a small head, long limbs and strong large jaws. In females there is a spermatic receptacle on the body, in males - a genital claw. During mating, the female climbs on the back of the male, they interlock with the genitals and are in this position for several hours.
The pregnant female is ready to lay eggs almost immediately after fertilization.Under favorable conditions, laying occurs once a day. If the air temperature is too low or the female is hungry and exhausted, she cannot lay the clutch. During its life, a flea can lay up to 2000 eggs. About a third of them will not be able to develop, but the rest will hatch and survive if they can find enough food.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: Little flea
Life cycle details are available for only a few flea species. They have four stages of life - an egg, a larva, a pupa, and an adult. Pearly white oval eggs are laid on the body, nest, or habitat of the host animal.
The larva is small and legless and feeds on organic debris such as dried feces, dried pieces of skin, dead mites, or dried blood found in the host's nest. Adult fleas quickly pass fresh, absorbed blood through the intestines to produce feces to feed their babies, which is necessary for the successful metamorphosis of some species of flea larvae.
After three (in rare cases, two) molts, the larva unwinds a silk cocoon, which includes debris from the nest and enters the puppet stage. The pupa turns into an adult after a few days or months. Some species may enter a stunted state of development at the end of the pupal stage and will not mature until a host appears. Depending on the species or environmental conditions, the time required for the full life cycle of a flea varies from two weeks to several months.
Interesting fact: The lifespan of an adult flea ranges from a few weeks (for example, Echidnophaga gallinacea) to a year or more (Pulex allerans).
The life cycle of the European rabbit flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi) and its host is perfectly synchronized. The sexual development of male and female fleas is directly controlled by the sex hormones of the rabbit. Thus, the eggs of a female flea only mature successfully if she feeds on a pregnant rabbit.
When young rabbits are born, both sexes of fleas mature and leave the mother for the chicks and nest, where they mate and lay eggs, thus providing the flea larvae with a suitable habitat for development. If the female rabbit's sex hormones are artificially controlled by the administration of a synthetic progestin (contraceptives), the female flea's sexual development also stops.
Although a similar case among other flea species is not yet known, it has been documented that rat fleas are less fertile when fed on infant mice than their parents, and that the mouse flea (Leptopsylla segnis) is more fertile when reared more in family units. than on individual adult mice. Therefore, it is likely that the effects of host hormones are more widespread than anticipated.
Varieties of fleas with photos
Many people mistakenly believe that fleas do not care which animal they live in. But some flea species settle only in the wool of a certain type of animals. Accordingly, they are classified. Among the most common types are:
- Felines - live on cats, but can bite dogs and people. They have a flattened body, black or dark brown.
- Canine - Bite dogs, cats and people. On their body there are large bristles that help insects cling to wool. Strong hind legs allow them to easily jump onto other dogs and cats.
- Rat are the main vectors of diseases. They feed on the blood of rats and can bite humans. They differ from other species in the size of the body, which can reach 4 mm.
- Chicken - live on domestic chickens and some species of wild birds. They feed on the blood of birds. A distinctive feature of the species is horny growths on the heads of males.
- Human - a species that feeds only on human blood. They are capable of parasitizing pigs and domestic animals. Large, up to 4 mm, the color of the calf is brown or black.
Knowing what are the fleas, you can distinguish one species from another and understand whether it is worth fearing infection during a bite.
What fleas can you get from animals
No matter how fleas look in animals, almost all of them are capable of biting and feeding on human blood. But they cannot live on the body of people: the structure of human hair is different from the structure of wool. A person cannot become infected with fleas from animals, but their bites remain dangerous for him. When contacting a sick animal, you need to take precautions: use gloves, do not press it to yourself. After processing the animal's fur, you should definitely inspect yourself: it is possible that bite marks will be found on the body.
We hope our advice helped you!
And at the first stage of the encounter with this problem, you were able to take the necessary measures. However, remember that fleas are one of the most dangerous parasites that have entered your home, because they are carriers of various serious infections. For the complete extermination of fleas from housing, sometimes serious measures are required, therefore, if parasites are found in your home, we advise you to immediately contact the appropriate sanitary service, even a one-time such service will help you not to worry about meeting unwanted guests for a long time. You can apply for such a service by going to the flea treatment section in your home.
How fleas appear in the apartment
In private homes, fleas are common, in apartments they are less common. Fleas live on the lower floors, but they can also get to the upper ones. Main routes of entry:
- together with an infected animal;
- from a cellar or basement;
- from a nearby contaminated apartment.
To find an insect in an apartment, you need to know what color are fleas and where they like to settle. In the wild, fleas live in grass and under rocks. Their favorite places in the house are baseboards, cracks, carpets and upholstered furniture. Body shape and flea weight allows the insect to hide easily and is difficult to spot. It is easiest to spot the parasite against a light background. You need to spread a white sheet on the floor or cover it with a sofa. The dark dots that have appeared on it are fleas that have crawled out of their hiding place in search of food.
How to detect
Detection in animals is very easy if you keep an eye on your pets.
First: it gives out behavior - they start to itch, become restless. If they just appeared, then the pets practically do not itch.
But even at this stage it can be traced: carefully examine the coat and skin. In the area of the abdomen and back, dark crusts will be visible - this is blood digested by a flea.
To be found in a house or apartment, it is necessary to regularly examine pets. Examine your skin for bites in the morning. Check the presence of flea droppings, it is very easy to do: walk on the floor with a light damp cloth, walk on the carpet in white socks, look at the seams of the mattress, carefully examine the sofa and carpet.
Flea control
It is impossible to completely get rid of fleas with the help of folk remedies, they are suitable only as a preventive measure. There are two types of chemicals to destroy parasites: powders and aerosols. No matter, what size fleas, how old they are and how many of them have accumulated in the room - a strong insecticidal agent will get rid of them quickly and effectively.
Powders penetrate the insect through the skin. They need to be scattered in the flea habitat: around the perimeter of the rooms near the baseboard, under furniture, behind the radiators. The most popular powders are:
- dust;
- Finaxin;
- Phenaxine pyrethrum.
The powders are safe for humans and deadly for fleas. But the agent works only with direct contact with the body of the insect.To remove all parasites, from time to time you need to add the powder again.
Aerosols act instantly. They enter the body of fleas along with the air, therefore they can be dangerous to humans. Before processing the room, you need to carry out wet cleaning, move furniture away from the walls, remove carpets. Spray all surfaces with an aerosol, close windows and doors tightly and do not enter the room for at least 6 hours. Afterwards, carry out a wet frill again and open all the windows to wipe off the remaining aerosol.
Insect lifespan
Insects live from several months to 3 years. The duration of existence depends on what type of parasite and what the ambient temperature is. In hot climates (+ 30 ... + 35 ° С) their life becomes shorter by about 40%, and in cold climates it increases, as the process of insect development slows down.
A human flea develops from an egg to an adult from 15 days to 1 year. Feline - up to 2 years, and canine - one and a half years. An insect can exist for a very long time without food (from 40 days to 3 months). During this period, its activity weakens, and the reproduction process stops.
How to get rid of fleas, they will tell in the video:
Flea bites: reaction, treatment
Flea bites are similar to mosquito bites: the bite site swells and hurts, and when touched, a person experiences severe itching. Strong immunity makes bites relatively easy to tolerate. Within 1-2 hours, the damaged skin area returns to its normal appearance. With a tendency to allergies, the external signs of a bite persist for up to 3-4 days. The size of the edema at the site of the bite gradually increases, 3-5 times exceeding flea size... It becomes hard, the skin on it becomes thin and flakes.
In order to prevent the development of complications, the bite site must be treated with an antiseptic: alcohol, iodine, brilliant green or special ointment. You cannot comb the bite, an infection can get into the wound. If allergic symptoms appear, you should immediately go to the hospital.
Danger to humans
It may seem to some that the worst consequence is bites. They cause obvious discomfort, but still not the worst thing that can be expected from parasites. In fact, fleas are actively spreading a large number of pathogens. Among them are the causative agents of typhoid, salmonella, hepatitis, encephalitis.
In addition, individuals are capable of carrying the larvae of parasitic worms. Any animal that has bitten the parasite can become infected with worms. Here lies a cunning system: the larvae of the worms secrete substances that the flea larvae feed on. It turns out a continuous process of producing two pests at once.
Individuals, as a rule, do not linger on their prey for a long time. They choose a place for a bite, feed themselves and leave the victim. On average, the parasite needs one meal per day. The rest of the day is spent digesting blood. But certain species of fleas settle on the victim for permanent habitation. Some live in wool, and some, for example, sandy ones, live right in the skin, which leads to terrible ulcers and lesions.
Pests tend to attack the victim collectively, inflicting a large number of bites. The result is severe itching and, in some cases, severe allergies.
What diseases do fleas carry?
Flea bites themselves are not dangerous and pose a real threat only to people prone to allergies. But when bitten, they can transmit viruses to the victim of many diseases, including fatal ones:
- salmonellosis - a disease with symptoms close to acute food poisoning;
- brucellosis - affects the internal tissues of the body, can lead to disability;
- tularemia - causes a sharp rise in temperature, affects the lymphatic system;
- listeriosis - a disease that affects the nervous system, causes seizures;
- Chagas disease is a disease with complex symptoms that affects all organ systems;
- plague is a disease that affects the lymphatic system and triggers the process of tissue decomposition.
Fleas in Russia are ubiquitous. To avoid infection, you need to take precautions and if insects appear in the house, immediately get rid of them.
The dangers of pests
As a reward from bloodsuckers, people can receive not only all sorts of local reactions on the surface of the skin, but also some dangerous diseases. They are carriers of tuberculosis, rat typhus, tularemia, listeriosis, plague. Their consequences, if someone is not lucky enough to be infected with one of the ailments, can be very deplorable.
Scientists are sure that each insect is quite capable of rewarding people with one of several hundred ailments existing in the body of the parasite. Do not panic, because rarely a bite of a bloodsucker can lead to any disease. It is dangerous if bites appear on the body due to a sand flea. In this case, the risk of being infected with an infection increases significantly. With a strong bite, the affected area often transforms into an abscess. Bloodsuckers of this species are able to get under the skin and carry out reproduction there, as well as harmful vital activity.
Video
Interesting about fleas
Fleas are unique insects that have deservedly captured the attention of scientists around the world. This can be verified by examining interesting facts about fleas:
- With an average life cycle of 2 years, an adult flea can go without food for up to 1.5 years.
- Fleas can easily tolerate temperature extremes and can even live at the North Pole. They are not even afraid of the increased level of radiation.
- Fleas are one of the oldest species of insects that have not evolved over their multimillion-dollar history of existence: their appearance and features have not changed.
- The largest flea in the world - Hystrichopsylla schefferi. The size of an adult reaches 13 mm.
- Fleas feed only on the blood of warm-blooded animals, infecting their carriers with various diseases. The insects themselves do not suffer from them.
- The flea can jump up to 1.5 m, which is actually 100 times the length of its body. A person needs to jump 160 meters to achieve the same result.
- Until the end of the 18th century, people were forced to put up with the constant presence of fleas in their homes. Noble ladies who wore wigs used a special comb to shake out fleas and get rid of the itching caused by bites.
Bloch began to be actively studied in the 19th century. The pioneer and the most authoritative scientist who has collected the largest collection of blood-sucking insects is C. Rothschild. His works became the basis for the creation of a modern classification.
Watch the flea video:
Reasons for the appearance of blood-sucking insects in the house
It will not be possible to remove parasites forever if you do not determine where fleas come from in an apartment or house. In the presence of pets, it is not difficult to trace the connection between the appearance, where the harmful fleas come from. If animals go for a walk without special collars, then they may well bring several specimens in their wool, which at first will annoy them, and after an increase in the population size, all household members.
If there are no animals in the apartment, fleas can migrate from neighboring infected apartments, from basements, through utilities. Often, a person himself brings adults or larvae on his clothes or shoes. Fleas from dampness appear quite often, the reason lies in the high humidity in the basements and bathrooms.
