Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of humans and animals. However, you may be surprised to learn that blood is not the only thing fleas eat. Flea larvae have a different diet from flea adults. It’s helpful for homeowners to understand the feeding habits of these pests so that they can quickly identify a flea infestation.
The most effective and efficient way to deal with a flea problem is to call in a pest control service . The experts have the tools and experience to reach even the most hard-to-find fleas.
What Do Fleas Eat?
Fleas are parasitic insects that attach to a host to feed on their blood. They have various host options but primarily attach to household pets like cats and dogs.
Pets who spend time outside are more susceptible to flea infestations, so it’s important to remember to give your pets their flea-prevention medication. Understanding what flea bites look like is crucial so you can identify them on your pet and relieve their pain as soon as possible.
Wild animals, such as squirrels, rats, mice and raccoons, are popular flea hosts. These animals often bring fleas into backyards and homes, which is how they jump onto your pets.
If a preferred animal is not around, fleas will also be used by humans to secure a blood meal.
Fleas are excellent at latching onto a host and securing a blood meal. They find their hosts by feeling their body heat or sensing their movement and breathing. After jumping on their new host, they attach by piercing the host’s skin with their mouths.
The flea’s mouth has needle-like parts that allow them to pierce the skin and access a blood vessel. They use the proboscis, the mouth needles, to open the blood vessel and suck blood through the wound. At the same time, their salivary glands release an anticoagulant into the wound that keeps the blood flowing.
What Do Flea Larvae Eat?
The adult flea diet is exclusively blood-based, but flea larvae are different. After hatching, they rely on adult fleas to provide them with flea dirt.
Flea dirt is dried blood that adult fleas excrete after a feeding. It contains the essential nutrients that larvae need to grow into healthy adult fleas. However, flea larvae feed on dead skin cells and shed feathers their hosts.
They may even eat food particles if they have access to them. In the larvae stage, fleas eat to grow into adults, so they need to eat a large diet.
What to Do if You Have a Flea Infestation
Have you discovered flea bites on yourself, your family members or your pets? The most effective way to get rid of fleas is to call in a professional pest control service. Fleas know how to hide in hard-to-reach places, and it takes expert help to control them in your home.
However, there are things you can do to complement professional treatments, such as treating your pets with flea solutions and keeping a clean home. A pest control professional can also advise you on more prevention methods to help you avoid a flea infestation in the future.
Can You Feel Fleas Crawling On You?
Fleas are tiny and quick insects known for jumping, making them hard to detect. They are much smaller than other common pests at only one-eighth of an inch long.
Since they move around by jumping instead of crawling, you will not feel fleas crawling on you. However, you may be able to feel fleas moving on your body if there are several that are using you as a host at the same time. Otherwise, feeling and identifying fleas is difficult until you have visible and irritating flea bites.
It’s also difficult to spot a flea infestation on your pets, so it’s important to look for other signs of fleas to deal with the problem right away. Signs that your pets are dealing with fleas include more scratching than usual and the appearance of flea bites. In addition to bites, you may also find flea feces in your pet’s fur.
What Do Flea Bites Look Like?
Flea bites create small red bumps of raised skin. They can cause intense itchiness and may eventually develop into a blister. You will often see flea bites in clusters or straight lines, which indicate a flea’s feeding pattern.
Eventually, flea bites should heal on their own. However, some people have extreme allergic reactions to flea bites and develop rashes or serious swelling.
Fleas can bite humans on any part of the body, but it’s easiest for them to access the lower half of the body. It’s common for humans to develop itchy flea bites around their ankles, feet and calves.
However, fleas are excellent jumpers and can reach their human hosts’ arms, wrists and other areas of exposed skin. Some fleas live inside couches or furniture, making accessing a human host even easier.
Fleas may also bite around your waistline or under your armpits if these areas are exposed or your clothing is loose enough to give them access. On pets, fleas often bite around their head, neck, lower back, stomach and legs.
If you or your pets are dealing with fleas, there are likely more of these pests around your home. Fleas are excellent hiders, so it’s crucial to enlist professional help to control them. Call in your local pest control service to treat your home for fleas.
Do Fleas Go Away With a Bath?
Taking a bath is a common go-to when someone discovers they have fleas, but does it get rid of these pests?
The answer is yes and no. While bathing may help eliminate fleas from you or your pet’s body, it is not an effective flea control method. There are likely more fleas in your home, so a bath does not address the full problem.
However, a bath may provide you or your pet with temporary relief from fleas and their itchy bites, especially when using a flea shampoo.
To address the rest of your flea problem, contact a pest control service. In addition to their treatments, there are complementary methods that you can try at home.
First, thoroughly vacuuming your home daily can help get rid of fleas. These pests hide out in carpet, upholstered furniture, rugs and other fabric. Vacuuming all of these areas can go a long way in getting rid of fleas.
Next, wash all of your bedding, rugs and furniture coverings on high heat to get rid of any fleas that are hiding in these items. You should also include your pet’s bedding. After the wash, use high heat again to dry everything.
To safeguard your pets from getting fleas again, use prevention methods like flea collars, topical flea prevention treatments and oral medications. Limit their time in wooded areas and tall grass, as this is a common place to pick up fleas.
Homeowners need to keep in mind that it’s possible to have fleas in the house even if you don’t have pets. These pests thrive indoors because they can access a host, plenty of places to hide and warm temperatures.
Whether you have pets or not, being vigilant about a flea infestation is important. These parasites can reproduce rapidly and quickly become a major annoyance for homeowners. They also leave behind itchy bites that can turn into rashes.
Do not hesitate to contact a professional pest control service if you notice signs of fleas in your home .
Contact Pest Control Pros to Control Fleas
As parasitic insects, fleas can create an extremely frustrating problem for homeowners. Whether they’ve chosen you or your pets as their host, a flea infestation needs to be addressed.
While there are things you can do to limit fleas in your home, a pest control expert can deal with the entire problem. Contact the professionals as soon as you notice signs of fleas in your home.
ABC Can Solve Your Flea Problems
Keeping fleas at bay takes a lot of time, effort and knowledge. The most effective way to manage a flea infestation is to call in a professional. The pest control pros at ABC Home & Commercial Services can control flea invasions by treating inside your home and in your yard. We have been controlling fleas from homes for decades, and can even inspect your home for signs of potential infestations. With ABC’s help, you won’t have to worry about a flea problems or any other unwanted invaders.
