The flea family is not so small; researchers number about several thousand species in total. However, not all of these insects can be blood-sucking and not all can live in houses where people live. Earth fleas are just one of the representatives of relatively harmless insects that do not feed on human blood, but can still appear in the house. To understand what the possible harm is, whether the appearance of uninvited guests poses a danger to the health of people and animals, and also how to get rid of earthen fleas, you need to get to know this species in more detail.
- What is an earthen flea
- What danger does it pose to people: bites and consequences Why fleas do not bite everyone
- Photos and symptoms of bites
- What to do if you find bites
- Xulat Micro
- Effective herbs and citrus fruits
- Averfos
What is an earthen flea
Before defining such a flea, it should be emphasized that it should not be confused with a household or sand flea, despite the external similarities. The ground flea is a bug belonging to the family of leaf beetles, not bloodsuckers. Its relationship to its blood-sucking relatives, who suffer a number of dangerous diseases, is considered conditional and only because there is external similarity. For example, common external characteristics are thickened hind legs at the hips and long-distance jumping ability. The size of each flea is just 1-5 mm. The color of their “back” (wings) can be different, from black to striped or spotted.
general information
The insect itself is a purely herbivore. Its jaw apparatus is designed in such a way that it simply does not have the ability to pierce human skin. Therefore, if anyone thinks that another bite on an arm or leg was provoked by the activity of these parasites, they are mistaken.
Most likely, the reason for this was their “relatives” by name. Although, as practice and the structure of the body show, they have virtually nothing in common.
The main points that distinguish an ordinary earthen bug from the bloodsuckers known to everyone remain:
- Body dimensions. The traditional flea is several times smaller than its earthen “relative”.
- Shell color. Bloodsuckers can be either brown (sometimes red) or black. Ground bugs vary in color depending on the plant they parasitize, but most often their shell is green.
- Location. Classic fleas live in animal fur, earth fleas live on plants and in the ground.
Despite these visible differences, it is sometimes quite difficult to quickly assess what type of insect is in front of your eyes. The fact is that both species have strong lower legs, which allow them to jump long distances. Some of the earthen fleas can even fly.
What danger does it pose to people: bites and consequences
Most often, such insects live in the ground, in the soil or on various leafy plants. They do not pose a direct danger to human health, but they can carry various bacteria, viruses and microbes on their paws. Most of all, they harm crops, seedlings grown on a windowsill or indoor flowers.
In residential premises where people live, they can often be seen in private houses, cottages, and country houses. Most rarely - in apartments, and even then, they usually breed in old apartment buildings.
They enter the premises riding on pets, or along with bags, vegetables brought from the market, soil for planting flowers in pots, and also from dirty basements. As soon as these “guests” appear in the house, they immediately begin to settle in carpets, paths, in cracks in the floor and walls, and hide under baseboards. A little later you can already see them in upholstered furniture, in woolen clothes that no one has used for a long time. It should be noted that, despite the fact that the bugs are not bloodsuckers, they can still bite if they come into contact with human skin, but rarely.
The main danger to humans is the risk of an allergic reaction to flea bites, as well as infection or parasites. At the same time, they choose their victims quite meticulously, so many are concerned about the question of why earth fleas do not bite all people. There are several theories on this matter, each of which is quite logical and confirmed by practical research.
Why fleas don't bite everyone
- Many bloodsucking insects prefer a certain blood type and Rh factor (most often this is the first positive).
- Thin skin also attracts pests because it is much easier to bite through. That is why women and children most often become victims, while the head of the family can be completely invulnerable to bites.
- Ground fleas, like many other insects, also search for prey by the smell of sweat and temperature.
- There is an unconfirmed theory that blood-sucking insects prefer people with natural red hair. This theory may be true, but only due to the already mentioned point about thin skin, because this is one of the characteristics of red-haired people.
- In fact, fleas bite everyone indiscriminately, but the reaction to bites varies from person to person. Perhaps one of the most logical statements. In a room infested with these pests, by default there cannot be people completely immune to their attacks.
It should be noted that even a person with “tasteless” blood also runs the risk of receiving a lot of attention from earthen fleas. This can happen in the absence of certain gastronomic interests of insects, in excessively proliferated offspring, and also during a period when there is no alternative source of food. In any case, this situation should be stopped, and for this you need to know what to do if fleas bite and how to properly treat the bites.
Photos and symptoms of bites
The bites of these small insects are extremely painful and cause a rather “violent” reaction from the body. Even compared to mosquitoes, flea bites are more itchy and inflamed. In addition, if you are “lucky” with individual intolerance, this can become a real problem and develop into serious health complications. A flea bite can be identified by its characteristic symptoms: small randomly located dots, severe itching, close proximity of damaged areas. Even one individual usually leaves several bites on the body at a time, searching for vessels close to the surface, or moving during human movements.
You can take a closer look at the characteristic bites of the flea in the photo.
If you have been bitten by earth fleas, you need to know what to do in such cases. The bites are accompanied by severe itching, so the victim often scratches them. Red spots and even blisters may appear at this site; cases of severe allergies to substances injected under the skin are known. They not only prevent blood clotting, but also soften skin tissue. For the parasite, this makes it easier to eat; for humans, it becomes an additional threat of infection after scratching or exposure to pathogenic strains of bacteria from the outside. In addition, insects themselves can become carriers of certain types of parasites and infectious diseases.
What to do if you find bites
- Apply ice, a cold compress, or even a regular metal spoon to the bite site.
- Be sure to disinfect the damaged area to prevent suppuration.
- From folk recipes, you can use honey, soda, apple cider vinegar (diluted in half with water), a slice of lemon or chopped fresh parsley (can be replaced with plantain).
The pharmacy also has many drugs suitable for such cases. Steroids and antihistamines, which are used to prevent an allergic reaction, require consultation with your doctor. First aid medications, which also work well against insect bites, can be used as needed. These include gel “Fenistil”, “Rescuer”, sulfur ointment, “Flucinar” or “Elidel”. They are sold over the counter and help relieve itching and inflammation of the skin. However, if you have a strong negative reaction, you should definitely see a doctor for further treatment.
The danger of insect bites for humans
Biting insects such as fleas are extremely dangerous because... are carriers of many infectious diseases that require long-term treatment.
Among them:
- plague;
- encephalitis;
- listeriosis;
- anthrax;
- typhus;
- tuberculosis;
- hepatitis;
- tularemia.
Flea bites are a source of helminthic and fungal infestation. The parasite injects its saliva during feeding. The bite site is very itchy and may become red. People who are sensitive to the enzymes present in the saliva of these fleas may experience allergic reactions.
First aid
The feet, ankles and ankles are the most common sites where the legs are affected. Areas of insect attack may be invisible, but damage to the skin is indicated by itching. If there are no severe allergic reactions, bites can be treated at home.
The affected area must be treated with a disinfectant. A cold compress helps relieve itching. In addition, it is recommended to use an ointment that includes antihistamines. If signs of allergy or intoxication of the body appear, you cannot carry out treatment on your own; you should seek medical help.
If fleas have bitten a child
Focal redness appears on children's skin at the sites of bites. The child experiences severe discomfort due to itching. Bite areas must be treated with a disinfectant and a cold compress applied. If there are many areas of damage, you should consult a doctor, because... Antihistamines may be required to relieve symptoms.
Methods and ways to get rid of earthen fleas
In order to get rid of earthen fleas in an apartment, you need to treat the room in the correct way. The procedure for such processing may be as follows:
- First you need to find where the insects are hiding.
- All woolen items, as well as carpets, fleecy bedspreads, rugs, pillows, etc. should be regularly washed and dried in the sun.
- All baseboards, floors and other places must be washed with a special product that destroys earthen fleas.
- For preventative purposes, you should always wash the floors and remove dust in the house by adding any disinfectant to the water.
- Even the most effective remedy for fleas must take some time to act, so ideally it is advisable to leave the premises for this period.
- General cleaning is carried out - you need to vacuum everything and everywhere, and then wash and ventilate.
The duration of treatment indoors depends on the drug itself. Therefore, before using any remedy for fleas purchased with the aim of killing these insects, you need to carefully study the instructions. In the manufacturer's recommendations, always indicate the period of exposure of the treated room. It is possible that when cleaning a room after treating fleas with an insecticide, you can find dead insects. This is why it is so important to clean your room with a vacuum cleaner.
Reasons for the appearance of fleas in the house
People usually realize that their home is infested by the characteristic painful bites and immediately wonder where the fleas came from. Neither the cleanliness of the owners nor living in an apartment building in a metropolis guarantees protection from them. Parasites often enter a home on a person’s shoes or clothing, through an open window, or from neighbors. Main sources of appearance:
- personal plot;
- dirty basement;
- infected pets;
- rodents;
- hand-bought items.
How to remove fleas using folk remedies
Often the use of professional products is impossible and undesirable. Small children, pets and simply the inability to leave the premises during the treatment period - this weight forces you to look for alternatives and turn to folk remedies for fleas. In this case, the treatment period will increase, because it is necessary to exterminate all insects, from larvae to adults. It is recommended to use the proposed methods daily for two weeks. Only under this condition is the effect maintained and it is possible to remove pests at all stages of development.
Effective herbs and citrus fruits
- Insects are extremely repelled by the smell of some herbs. These are wormwood, tansy, mint and walnut leaves. You can simply spread them around the house, but it is better to prepare a concentrated solution with which to thoroughly treat all surfaces.
- An effective folk remedy for fleas is the zest of citrus fruits. To do this, you can scatter dried orange and lemon peels around the perimeter of the rooms, and also treat all hard-to-reach places with a diluted solution of essential oils using a spray bottle.
Treatment should be carried out not only on the floor, but also on the surface of furniture, walls and, especially carefully, in hard-to-reach places. The earth flea likes to settle between baseboards, in the upholstery of upholstered furniture, clothing and in carpet pile. If possible, it is imperative to disinfect all these things: wash them in hot water, freeze them outside and regularly subject them to dry and wet cleaning.
Insect lifestyle
The risk zone for acquiring new pets is the first two floors of a multi-story building , since these insects usually do not rise higher. Biologists say that the height of their jump does not exceed 1 meter. Insects have a complete life cycle, including the larval stage. The larvae have an external resemblance to small worms and feed on dead organic debris. The final stage of larval development is the formation of a pupa, which tolerates unfavorable environmental conditions and is resistant to lack of food and sudden changes in temperature.
Ground fleas in the yard
Persistent bugs can enter the premises from the yard of a private house. If in high-rise buildings the risk of injury is relatively small, for owners of their own houses it increases significantly. How to deal with earthen fleas in the yard, since they can independently penetrate into a living space, without even bothering to look for “intermediaries”? You will have to act quickly and purposefully, because not only your home plants are at risk, but also your loved ones. To do this, there are special preparations that need to be used to treat the garden, yard and the area immediately adjacent to the house. It is dangerous to use kerosene, turpentine and other substances. In addition to the immediate threat of fire and the characteristic odor, the risk lies in soil contamination and its unsuitability for further growing plants.
How to fight parasites
To prevent tree fleas from settling in your home forever, you should get rid of them as quickly as possible. The best option is to contact a special service that kills insects with chemicals.
If a couple of uninvited guests appear in the apartment, you need to place chamomile in the corners
If a couple of uninvited guests appear in the apartment, it will be easy to get rid of them. Place herbs in the corners of the room: chamomile, wormwood, camphor. They will drive away parasites and pleasantly freshen the air. Allergy sufferers can replace herbs with regular pine needles, which also gives a good effect.
You can treat your apartment with chemicals yourself, but you must first hide the food and remove pets from the house. The processing method depends on the type of drug. After the procedure, it is necessary to bathe pets with a special anti-flea shampoo, then parasites will no longer appear in the apartment.
The Best Yard and Outdoor Treatments
Treatment of the surrounding area is carried out only after carefully studying the instructions, as well as observing all precautions when preparing and using the solution.
Averfos
- Produced in Russia, at ZAO Rosagroservis.
- The release form is a concentrated solution, which should be diluted in water and used to spray the area. A layer that is toxic to parasites forms on the treated surfaces. The effect lasts for 3 – 5 weeks.
- The active component is chlorpyrifos (causes paralysis of the insect's nervous system, leading to rapid death).
- Bottle volume – 500 ml, 1 l, 5 l, 10 l.
- The spectrum of exposure includes bedbugs, fleas, cockroaches, flies, ants and others.
- Estimated cost - from 1000 rubles/l.
BUY
Review, Konstantin:
I used Averfos to treat fleas in my summer cottage. The product is very caustic - you cannot do without a respirator. The effect was noticeable almost immediately; many other garden pests were targeted. I don’t recommend it as a preventive measure, but in case of severe infection, this is it.
Karbofos
- Produced in Russia, Alina Nova LLC.
- The release form is a concentrated emulsion or powder, which should be diluted in water and used for spraying. In open ground it has a relatively quick decay period (5 - 7 days), therefore it is used to treat crops against pests. Does not accumulate in plants, is relatively harmless to warm-blooded animals and humans.
- The active component is malathion (“shorts” nerve impulses, leading to irreversible consequences in the body of insects).
- Bottle volume – 30 ml, 500 ml, 1 l, 5 l, 10 l.
- The spectrum of exposure includes bed bugs, ticks, fleas, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies, ants and others.
- Estimated cost - from 3150 rubles/5 l.
BUY
Review, Valentina:
A very caustic and effective drug. I wouldn’t use it to treat indoors, but it works best outdoors. I heard that they want to ban it due to toxicity, but, in my opinion, it is much safer than other advertised products. At least a week after treatment, you can harvest, while analogues require about a month.
Delta zone
- Korean drug (Kukbo Science Co. Ltd.).
- Release form: concentrate for further dilution in the specified proportions and microcapsule powder. Active action - two weeks. The insecticidal effect lasts up to six months, preventing the emergence of new pests.
- Active composition: deltamethrin (disturbs the locomotor activity of insects).
- Bottle volume – from 50 ml to 1 liter.
- The spectrum of exposure includes bedbugs, fleas, cockroaches, flies, ants and others.
- Estimated cost - 690 rubles/50 ml, 4700 rubles/1 l.
BUY
Review, Igor:
Igor. Last year we had an invasion of all kinds of pests, and many of them moved from the site into the house. A team was called in to treat the premises, and I sprayed the area adjacent to the house with Delta Zone. Of course, my family and I had to temporarily move in with relatives, but the effect has remained to this day. Ants and fleas have disappeared, aphids and even mosquitoes are now flying around our area.
Biocyfen
- Produced in Russia, LLC Dezsnab-Trade.
- Release form: powder (dust). After treatment, the effect lasts for 4 – 6 weeks.
- The active components are fenthion (blocking the production of acitiocholinesterase enzymes) and cypermethrin (contact intestinal poison with neuroparalytic action).
- Powder packages of 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg.
- The spectrum of exposure includes fleas, cockroaches, flies, red ants and others.
- Estimated cost - 2650 rubles/15 kg.
BUY
Review, Lyudmila:
I have used Biotsifen more than once, the effect is always excellent, and the smell quickly dissipates after treatment. My private house is already quite old, so there are a lot of pests both inside and outside. The drug helped remove fleas, as well as domestic cockroaches. If the treatment is carried out according to the instructions, and also ventilated well and washed after use, there is practically no smell. As for processing the area, I use it selectively. As a preventive measure, I once sprayed the porch and veranda when there was simply an infestation of fleas.
