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Most people know that bed bugs “drink blood”, but in addition to this repulsive fact, it is also wise to have an idea of what bed bugs look like so you won’t miss them when inspecting your bed for these bloodsuckers.
If you do find any, Get Rid of Bed Bugs quickly with our professional Flea and Bed Bug Extermination Service.
Fleas are not a sign of poor housekeeping. They can be found in any type of premises. Flea problems are almost always related to pet cats and dogs. Ctenocephalides felis commonly called the cat flea (although it’s just as common on dogs), is usually the cause of these problems.
The cat flea has four stages of growth – egg, larva, pupa and adult. The adults have no wings but are able to jump great distances. The adult flea lives on the pet’s hair and skin. Once on a pet, the cat flea tends to remain there. The male and female flea feed on blood sucked from the pet’s skin. Mating occurs on the pet.
The female flea lays her eggs on the pet, but the eggs are not attached and will usually fall off the pet. Eggs are likely to fall where the pet spends the most time, such as in its bedding. The larva hatches from the egg. This thread-like stage feeds on organic material that has collected in protected places. A large part of the larval food is actually blood that has been passed in the faeces of the adult flea. The larvae move around in search of food and shelter. A carpeted floor is a very good place for flea larvae to develop.
Getting Rid of Fleas can be extremely difficult because, in about 14 days, the larval flea prepares a cocoon and enters the pupal stage. When the pupal stage is completed, the adult flea is ready to find a host. The adult can remain inactive for a long time within the cocoon until an animal is present. This is why a house that has been empty for several weeks may be “jumping” with fleas soon after a person enters. Other fleas that can be found are Dog flea Ctenocephalides canis and the Human flea Pulex irritans.
People will probably want to know how you can identify the “human flea” as opposed to the fleas that prefer other animals. Human fleas look very much like other kinds of fleas. The only difference is in the number of mouth bristles they have, which are very few in comparison to other species. This means that in order to be certain of the specific type of flea you may be dealing with you often need a microscope, or a magnifying lens and very good vision. In general descriptions, adult fleas are about 1 to 4 mm long with a tear-shaped body, extremely long hind legs and a very dark brown or black colour. Flea bites in humans tend to not be on the head, but on the arms or legs.
The simple fact is that since some fleas that infest and prefer other animals will still bite humans, (and vice versa) the specific breed of flea is less important than knowing how to deal with them when they become a problem. Human flea bites tend to be two or three right in a row instead of just one bite from other species. They make a red lump that itches intensely. Sometimes a red halo forms around the lump. Some people are very allergic to flea saliva. Human fleas have also been known to transmit diseases.
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