Types and size
There are about 2,500 species of fleas living on animals and birds in the world.
The most common flea types are:
- feline;
- canine;
- human;
- bird;
- rat.
In the city, the most common cat flea, which can also bite people and dogs. The human flea is less common, which is associated with an improved quality of life for people.
The average flea size is 1 to 6 mm. Some species of females after saturation can grow up to 1 cm. A fertilized female has a length of up to 15 mm.
The size of the parasite depends on the species. The largest flea is 13 mm long. This species can be found in North America and only in the habitats of the mountain beaver.
Flea lifestyle
The flea belongs to the order of blood-sucking arthropods. The insect moves by jumping, which can reach 30 cm in height and 50 cm in length. The body of the parasite is flattened from the sides and covered with bristles, such a structure allows it to move quickly in the fur of the animal. There is a sensory organ on the abdomen that signals the approach of a potential food source and changes in temperature.
Where live
Most often, fleas can be found on dogs and cats, so it may appear that animals are the habitat of parasites. In fact, warm-blooded animals and humans serve only as a source of food for fleas.
After saturation with blood, the insect jumps off the cat or dog to find a place to breed. In the apartment, parasites live in animal bedding, carpets with a long pile, in the floor. In nature, fleas choose places close to animal habitats. These can be burrows, bird nests, garbage dumps, basements.
Flea life cycle, reproduction and development
Flea development stages.
The life cycle of an insect consists of the following stages:
- Egg.
- Larva.
- Doll.
- An adult, or imago.
After being saturated with blood, which is necessary for reproduction, the female mates with the male. After fertilization, she lays 4-10 eggs. Eggs are shot at a great distance - this method of laying allows future larvae not to compete for food sources and increases the likelihood of survival.
In 2 weeks after laying, larvae appear from the eggs, which eat the feces of adult insects, blood residues, and organic matter. At favorable temperature and humidity, the larva can emerge from the egg in 2 days. Before pupa formation, the larva undergoes 3 molting stages. The term for the emergence of an adult from a pupa depends on environmental conditions and ranges from 1-2 weeks to 1 year.
Reproduction rate
With good nutrition, fleas reproduce quickly: a female can make 2-3 clutches per day, that is, lay up to 30 eggs per day. But more often she has enough strength to make one clutch of eggs. During her life, the female lays up to 500 eggs, after which she dies.
Identification of parasites
The body length of blood-sucking insects does not exceed 2-3 mm, so it is quite difficult to notice them. They like to settle in the crevices of the floor, behind baseboards, under furniture, in the folds of upholstered furniture, on carpets.
The first signs of the presence of parasites are bites that itch and appear as red spots.With hypersensitivity and multiple bites, an allergic reaction or dermatitis may develop.
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You can find out about a flea infestation at home by actively itching pets. In their fur it is difficult, but you can see small brown or black moving dots. The pet literally tears the skin apart, which causes wounds to appear, which become inflamed and can become inflamed.
NOTE! To get rid of fleas and lice quickly, there are only three effective options:
- Calling a pest control service (expensive);
- Purchase (1390 rubles);
- Chemicals (questionable effect).
You can also identify the presence of fleas in the apartment by spreading a white sheet on the floor. It will be easy to see dark insects on light fabric.
How many live
The lifespan of fleas depends on environmental conditions. Under favorable conditions, some species live up to 18 months. The average life span is around 2-3 months. When the temperature rises to + 35 ° C, adults and larvae in the cocoon die, their life expectancy does not exceed two weeks.
When the temperature drops to 0 ° C, adults die after 5 days. Eggs and larvae will not develop at air temperatures below +13 ° C.
Eggs are less sensitive to low temperatures, at which they do not die, but fall into suspended animation. The egg can stay in this state for a long period, since the cocoon protects from dehydration and exposure to low temperatures.
In the laboratory
In laboratory conditions, subject to temperature, humidity and regular supply of a food source to insects, the life of a flea is 5-6 months.
On an animal
The lifespan of a parasite on an animal depends on its self-care skills. On the fur of a young animal, the probability of lingering is higher than on an adult. This is due to good immunity, structural features of the skin and scalp, better hygiene skills in an older animal. After a week, a cat or dog will destroy half of the insects that have fallen on the animal's body. After 3 weeks, 90% of the parasites are destroyed.
Life expectancy without food
In the absence of a regular food source, an adult can survive for 2-3 months. The parasite needs food for reproduction; while maintaining their activity, they cannot increase their offspring.
Larva stage
Flea larvae look like tiny white worms with small hairs. Their body length is about 6 millimeters. The larvae feed on organic material that is on their body or very close. Provided that they receive a sufficient amount of nutrients, after about 13 days, each individual will be sealed in a separate cocoon, from which an adult insect will later emerge.
Long-lived fleas
The Tien Shan flea has the longest life span, which parasitizes wild animals living in the northern regions. The average lifespan of this species is about 1 year. In the cold season, the flea's vital processes slow down, in this state it can live up to 14-16 months. With the onset of comfortable conditions, the insect returns to active life.
The developmental cycle of the human flea.
Influence of the season
The season does not affect the reproduction rate of fleas living in apartment conditions. The climate in the house is the same all year round. On the street, these processes are highly susceptible to biological rhythm.
Mating, bearing and laying of eggs takes place during the warm season. In the rainy, wet months, fleas actively reproduce. More often this time falls at the end of summer and beginning of autumn.
A decrease in air temperature leads to a slowdown in the rate of reproduction of fleas. Larvae hatched from eggs in winter practically do not survive. The exception is those who were born in warmth. Therefore, in winter, it is almost impossible to get infected with fleas.
What diseases do fleas carry?
All types of fleas can carry pathogens of infectious diseases.
The most common infections include:
- plague;
- yersineosis;
- pseudotuberculosis;
- typhus;
- salmonellosis;
- tularemia.
Pathogens enter the blood of a person with saliva when bitten. The rat flea is the most common carrier of infection, as it parasitizes rats, which are spreading diseases.
Are they dangerous to humans
Fleas and their larvae can be carriers of various serious diseases that threaten human life.:
- Bubonic plague;
- encephalitis;
- anthrax;
- trypanosomiasis;
- tularemia;
- typhus and relapsing fever, etc.
The likelihood of a threat may not be the norm, but some percentage remains. This is the most terrible threat to human health and life.
In addition, if, after destroying the eggs with your bare hands, you eat food without washing them, you can become infected with various types of worms.
How they bite
Flea bites.
When a flea comes into contact with the skin, it punctures it. Since it does not have a proboscis, in order to get to a blood vessel, the insect pushes the skin and penetrates deep into the skin.
After the bite, saliva enters the wound, which contains substances that prevent blood clotting. At the time of the bite, the animal or person feels a sharp pain, after which a small wound appears on the skin with redness around.
Lack of power
The body of bloodsuckers is capable of quick adaptation in difficult conditions. However, for food they need exclusively fresh human or animal blood. Knowing how many days a flea lives, it is much easier for people to fight them. Parasites can go without food for quite a long time (up to two or more months), during this period they are in a suspended state. Fleas cannot reproduce in the absence of food: in order for the female to lay eggs, she must periodically feed on fresh blood.
It is impossible to give absolutely accurate information about how long these pests can live without a "host". However, the opinion that they will die of hunger if the animal leaves the apartment for several months is wrong. In addition, with a decrease in room temperature, the likelihood that pests will be able to freely live there for a long time, while waiting for a source of food, increases.
The peculiarity of parasites is that the more they are without food, the longer their existence will last. A hunger strike prevents only their reproduction. In summer cottages and in private houses, flea families use small rodents as "hosts".
Ways to fight
The first step is to find the source of the parasites. If these are pets, then the wool should be processed. If insects have penetrated from the basement, then it is necessary to close up all visible gaps in the floor and walls and treat the room with insecticidal agents.
Chemicals
The chemicals that make up flea remedies affect their nervous system, blocking the transmission of nerve impulses, after which paralysis and death of the parasite occurs.
For disinsection of the home, means in the form of an aerosol, powder or crayon are suitable... During processing, it is necessary to evacuate people and animals living in the room. After measures for the destruction of parasites, airing and wet cleaning are carried out.
"Combat Super Spray" flea remedy.
Facilities for the treatment of premises:
- "Combat Super Spray". The product is available in the form of a spray that contains imiprotrin and cefenotrin as active ingredients.The spray has a low level of toxicity, but can cause poisoning of animals and children. The aromatic additives included in the composition eliminate the unpleasant smell of insecticides.
- "Clean house". The insecticidal agent is available in the form of a spray and powder, contains tetramethrin and cypermethrin. The spray is sprayed in the areas of the alleged habitat of fleas, has a toxic effect only on adults, but does not destroy their eggs. The powder should be diluted with water before use. With the resulting solution, use a spray bottle to treat the surfaces in the house.
- "Executioner". An insecticidal agent, the action of which is due to the substance fenthion. Fenthion, when sprayed, enters the respiratory tract of the parasite and kills it.
Animal processing products:
- Entomozan. Antiparasitic agent containing 10% cypermethrin. The preparation is suitable for treating the wool of domestic and farm animals.
- Stronghold. The tool is used to kill fleas and prevent re-infection. The active substance selamectin blocks the activity of the nerve cells of the parasites and leads to their death. The drug is applied topically to the skin of the animal in the area of the withers.
- Comfortis. It is available in the form of tablets for oral administration. The active substance spinosad, getting into the body of the parasite with food, causes paralysis of its nervous system and death.
Means for animals from fleas "Comfortis".
Traditional methods
Folk remedies for destroying fleas are not as effective as drugs based on chemical compounds, but in situations where it is not possible to use chemical agents, you can use folk methods to get rid of parasites:
- Exposure to temperatures. In winter, you can leave the apartment with open windows for a day in order to create a negative temperature in the room. In summer, bed linen and long-piled items can be hung out in the sun for 2 days.
- Smell of wormwood or tansy. In the places where insects are supposed to be found, herbs can be decomposed, the pungent smell of which is unpleasant for fleas.
- Salt carpets. When salt and the integumentary membrane of the parasite come into contact, it dehydrates and dies. Sprinkle the salt on the carpet, rubbing it down to the base of the pile. Leave the carpet in this form for 3 days and then vacuum it.
Prevention
Getting rid of parasite infestation is a long and difficult task, it is much easier to carry out regular prophylaxis, which will protect the pet not only from blood-sucking insects, but also from infection with diseases carried by flea beetles.
To protect the dog, you need to choose one of the following methods:
- Monthly use of special drops applied to the withers.
- Collars impregnated with pesticides.
- Chewable tablets lasting about 3 months.
- Sprays.
Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages. It must be remembered that such tools are never used simultaneously. The use of two or more drugs for one month will provoke pesticide poisoning, which is extremely dangerous for any dog.
It is worth protecting not only the dog from infection, but also the dwelling in which human, earthen and other species of flea beetles often settle. Frequent wet cleaning of the whole house, including hard-to-reach places, and periodic spraying of special sprays or folk remedies will save the apartment from unpleasant tenants.
Particular attention should be paid to curtains, pillows and sofas, as well as textiles folded for long-term storage, which rarely undergo heat treatment.
