As an extraordinarily common pest in Doylestown and beyond, the only place people can go to truly escape the human flea is the Arctic.
Human fleas are believed to have originated in South or Central America, but their ability to thrive in any temperate climate has enabled them to take over much of the world. Accordingly, it is possible to find them almost anywhere, including in people's homes and places of business. This is one pest species that is adapted to survive virtually anywhere.
Stopping human flea infestations can be difficult, especially because it can be challenging for the average person to locate and destroy all of the eggs and larvae that may be lurking somewhere within structures or on the grounds. Consequently, it is wise for people to ask an exterminator to treat the problem.
Through the use of specialized products that are not available to the public and the enactment of preventative measures, it is possible for a pest management professional to bring human flea infestations to an end.
WHAT DO HUMAN FLEAS LOOK LIKE?
Most fleas have a similar general appearance. Adult human fleas typically are reddish brown. Females measure between two-and-a-half and three millimeters long with males being slightly smaller. The body is relatively flat, and fleas are not equipped with wings. In general, the head is smaller than the thorax and abdomen. The flea's head tends to be quite short and is equipped with a pair of antennae that are divided into five segments. With mouth parts that are specialized for piercing skin and sucking blood, the human flea is well-adapted for feeding from mammals.
WHERE DO HUMAN FLEAS LIVE?
When it needs to feed, the human flea is found on a host, which generally is a larger carnivore, such as a person. In between mealtimes, the human flea may be found in nests of animals that are hosts or in almost any niche or cranny in a human home or office. Able to survive under a wide variety of conditions, the human flea can thrive almost anywhere a host might carry it. Eggs fall off of the host, which means that the young of human fleas also may be found inside man-made structures.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY HUMAN FLEAS
Bites from the human flea can make people sick, but little structural damage is associated with an infestation of these pests. Still, blood-sucking parasites do make people uneasy, and some people may spend considerable time and money looking for a way to end the infestation. Unfortunately, most DIY treatment methods are ineffective, so the more quickly property owners contact an exterminator, the sooner and more inexpensively the problem can be resolved.
WHAT DO HUMAN FLEAS EAT?
Blood meals are an essential component of the human flea's reproductive cycle. In fact, without a blood meal, it is impossible for the female to lay eggs. Nearly any mammal, including a person, is an appropriate host. The species feeds most frequently on domestic pigs, dogs and rats. Larvae typically eat organic matter that they find around them, which frequently consists of flea feces containing undigested blood.
ARE HUMAN FLEAS AGGRESSIVE?
Programmed to survive and multiply, the human flea absolutely is an aggressive species. When a building or landscaping is the site of a large infestation, people may be bitten multiple times as all of the females try to obtain the blood they need to lay eggs. Some people have actually become anemic after receiving an abundance of human flea bites.
Infestations of human fleas will persist until they are properly treated. With their capability for rapid reproduction, the problem will only grow worse until it is addressed.
DO HUMAN FLEAS CARRY DISEASE?
The bites of human fleas can transmit illnesses to people. One of these is the plague. Several centuries ago, millions of people were killed by this dreaded illness. It is rarer today, but it is not unheard of for the human flea to be a vector for this disease.
A more likely illness is murine typhus. Caused by transmission of the bacteria Rickettsia typhi, people with this disease may experience loss of appetite, fever, chills, general aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, cough, stomach pain and rash. Because this illness has symptoms that are similar to many others, a doctor may order a blood test to determine a diagnosis.
Some human fleas carry Rickettsia felis, which can cause flea-borne spotted rickettsiosis in people. This is a variation of murine typhus that may present with similar symptoms.
HOW TO DETECT FLEAS
Signs of a flea issue include
• Visual sightings of small, flat, reddish-brown insects • Finding red, raised, irritated bites on skin • Noticing that pets are significantly itchier • Pets develop bald spots from excessive scratching and biting • People experience unusual physical symptoms a couple of weeks after the pests appear
HOW TO PREVENT FLEAS
To help prevent flea problem the following precautions should be taken:
• Regularly bathing and brushing pets • Ensuring that pets receive routine flea-preventative treatments • Frequently washing bedding that is used by people and pets • Routinely using a strong vacuum on all indoor flooring • Cutting back foliage in landscaping to minimize hiding places for wild animals that may be flea hosts • Undergoing regular pest inspections to check for the presence of species that may be contributing to a human flea problem
HOW TO TREAT FOR FLEAS
Moderate to severe flea infestations can prove difficult to eradicate. As such, having the home or business professionally treated may be the best way to remove fleas. Typically a pest control provider will apply both an interior and exterior treatment, utilizing products designed for immediate eradication as well as residual protection against reinfestation.
