Fleas are relatively tiny, measuring about 1/8 inch in length, with flat, narrow bodies designed for easy movement through fur. They are reddish-brown and have long hind legs that enable them to jump great distances. Their bodies are hard and covered with tiny bristles, which help them cling to a host. Fleas lack wings but have piercing mouthparts used to bite and draw blood from their hosts. Their small size and quick movements often make them difficult to spot.
Flea bites appear as small, red, itchy skin bumps, often clustered in groups of two or three. They’re usually found on legs, ankles, or feet but can also appear on other exposed body areas. Flea bites may have a red halo or slightly raised appearance and can become irritated or inflamed if scratched. Flea bites are often more noticeable due to their itchy nature rather than their size.
Fleas often enter homes attached to cats or dogs. If you have a pet that goes outdoors, your pet likely brought them in. Fleas live on warm-blooded animals and prefer domesticated felines and canines.
Once inside, fleas breed around carpet edges, floor cracks, furniture, and other places. They most often breed and develop where dogs and cats sleep. Check these places first.
The telltale sign that your dog or cat has fleas is that they’ll start scratching. Remember that flea bites aren’t the only thing that will make pets scratch. They may have dry skin due to the drop in humidity during the winter months. But you should routinely check your pets, especially if they are scratching. Use a flea comb to look for live fleas moving in the fur and the “flea dirt” left by the fleas. Flea dirt looks like tiny black specks. It is the fecal matter of the adult fleas. Flea dirt is food for the baby, worm-like larvae.
You can get many flea bites and have no symptoms other than irritating itchy bites. However, fleas can transmit diseases if they are infected. Here is a list of the most common flea-transmitted diseases that impact human health:
A flea can go from egg to adult in about 2 to 3 weeks. Each female can lay roughly 20 to 50 eggs in a day after mating with a male, so it doesn’t take long for an infestation to get out of hand. Fleas can be deterred at first by the efforts of pet owners to clean bedding, vacuum, and apply flea control products to pets. But, sadly, fleas can outcompete all of these to continue to grow a population and present an issue.
Ask yourself one question, “Where does my pet sleep?” Flea larvae need flea dirt to grow. Baby fleas don’t bite. Therefore, fleas will develop where flea eggs and dirt are present. While eggs and flea dirt can drop anywhere, they will likely drop in the same locations where pets lie down for naps. Consider pet beds, couches, rugs, and blankets.
If your pets are scratching, you’ve found signs of fleas in your home, or you've even noticed them in your yard, contact got bugs? Termite & Pest Solutions for effective flea control in Atlanta. We offer interior and exterior flea treatments for the northern suburbs and are ready to help you eliminate these biting pests! Contact us today for assistance!
There are many ways to prevent fleas. Here are a few steps you can apply:
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