Do fleas have wings and why don't they fly?

Standing triple jump

This exercise is fundamental during athletics competitions.
The triple jump technique is characterized by the following stages:

1. Pushing off with both legs at the same time and flying. The actions are similar to classic standing jumps. Throw one leg out in front of you, bending it at the knees. In this case, the shin should look slightly forward and be lowered down. The other leg performs the function of holding back. After landing, bring the second (back) leg forward, thus preparing for the second stage.
2. Pushing off a second time and taking off again. Actions are performed similarly to the first push, with “raking” movements.
3. The third, final push before the main flight. The pushing leg should pull up to the fly leg, bend at the knee and move as close to the chest as possible.
4. Flight from a standstill and a successful landing. Having first lowered the fly leg to the ground, then the other and stood on the starting line, you need to immediately perform the jump, trying with all your might to lengthen the soaring phase in the air.

To achieve results, the swing movements must be performed lightly, and the thrusts before hovering must be strong and elastic.

How to remove parasites using folk remedies

The effectiveness of folk remedies in treating fleas in a dog is no lower than the effectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs, but treatment will take longer.

Traditional methods of treatment:

• dry twigs of wormwood are laid out around the house in different places, this will repel insects;
• a decoction of wormwood is used to bathe the animal;
• with a tincture of onion and garlic, the wool is treated in those places where the dog cannot lick the product: on the spine and withers;
• an infusion of celandine is applied drop by drop to the dog’s spine throughout the day;
• wool can also be treated with a solution of tansy, eucalyptus, juniper and lemongrass;
• On the bedding where the animal sleeps, you can apply small quantities of eucalyptus, mint, lavender or cedar essential oil. Oils can also be used to bathe your pet;
• a solution of soda and salt (one to one) is rubbed into the carpets of the room where the dog lives;
• tar soap is used to bathe the animal;
• Citrus fruit peels are laid out in the kennel or on the bedding where the animal sleeps.

Nutritional Features

If there is a food source, fleas will feed daily. However, if necessary, they can live without food for several months. If we talk about what fleas eat, it mainly depends on the type of insect. For example, some suck blood excessively, for 20 to 60 minutes, and it remains undigested in their feces.

Others prefer to eat more often, but in smaller portions (these are, as a rule, those individuals that live in the nests of birds or rodents).

Insects for the most part do not become attached to any one victim - they can feed on the blood of different birds and animals.

However, there are those who prefer only one power source. The usual victims of such insects are bats.

Methods of disposal

Parasites can be expelled from the house once and for all, only correctly and not “carelessly” by following all the instructions for their destruction. The question of how to get rid of genital fleas in an apartment, without harming the health of their pets, is asked by all owners. It's not difficult, just follow the guide:

• determine the source of the appearance of the insect and, if it appears due to pets, include the animals in the list of processed “objects”;
• remove fleas from animal skin;
• treat the apartment with special solutions, such as Butox or the like;
• thoroughly clean all rooms after the anti-insect solutions have expired;
• take preventative measures so that insects cannot restore the population or enter the house again.

On the bare floor

It can be quite difficult to destroy fleas due to the incredible rate of reproduction. One of their habitats is bare floors. There are baseboards, microscopic cracks, sinkholes and a constant flow of food. Fleas jump on the floor, which means they need to be destroyed quickly to prevent spread.

Crevices in the floor are the main habitat for fleas

Insects are not found higher than two meters above the ground

It is important to identify the most likely places of accumulation and carry out thorough disinfection there with the purchased products. A simple way to combat fleas is a vacuum cleaner that can collect eggs of creatures on surfaces

After cleaning, it is necessary to vacuum the cleaner so that no larvae remain in the dust collector.

There are now quite a lot of disinfectants. The simplest is dichlorvos

But before purchasing, you need to pay attention to the side effects of the product, indications for use and composition. Flea whitening can also help

You need to sprinkle the composition daily in places where insects accumulate and soon they will simply disappear, as the product dries out their skin.

On carpet

Carpet cleaning

Carpets are a common habitat for fleas. To destroy you need:

Vacuum carpets thoroughly using special attachments for this type of covering. You should start from one edge and run stripes across the entire bottom surface of the room. The areas at the bottom of furniture are especially likely to harbor insects. There you should go through the vacuum cleaner twice; vacuum the areas where pets are located, areas near baseboards, doors; vacuum a couple of times a day for 2-3 weeks, not just the floor

It is important to treat sofas, all sorts of cracks, fluffy toys; throw out the dust bag from the apartment. You should not leave it in the house for a long time so that the collected fleas and larvae do not begin to crawl

It is better to put the bag in a plastic bag and throw it away immediately after cleaning or disinfect it with a purchased solution against floor fleas; Steam clean carpets and furniture. Fleas in the carpet and their larvae are well destroyed with its help; treat the bedding and pet with insect repellents. The litter is washed at high temperature every day until the pests are completely gone.

Carpet fleas can also be destroyed using folk remedies. Baking soda is suitable and will only destroy well in unventilated areas. Soda is mixed with salt in equal doses and scattered on carpets and wool products, coverings and sofas, and in other possible accumulation areas. After 12 hours, everything is thoroughly vacuumed. A day later, the procedure is repeated until complete destruction.

It is quite difficult to determine the best remedy for genital fleas due to the abundance of offers on the market. Folk remedies have been able to prove themselves on the positive side, but you can also purchase special solutions that will forever rid home owners of annoying neighbors.

When an apartment is infested with fleas from rats and mice

Rodents cause fleas to appear in an apartment in two cases:

1. Rats or mice with one degree or another regularly enter the home itself, and fleas either jump off here or scatter their eggs;
2. Either rats and mice live and make nests close to an apartment or house - in the basement, in the front garden, in the attic, or even behind the wall of a private house. Here, the fleas themselves can jump into the apartment, and their larvae, swarming in the cracks of the walls and floors, can crawl inside. And if there is a nest near the apartment in which the animal dies (for example, after using rat poison), then fleas from the rodent’s corpse will almost certainly climb into the room in search of food.

This is the way fleas appear in private homes most often. Here rodents live in the garden, can make passages and nests in the insulation of the walls, and in this case the fleas are separated from the living space by only a few tens of centimeters of the wall. And the moment when at least one rodent entered the basement of a private house can be considered the starting point for the infection of the entire home.

What to do if there are parasites in the house

Now, when asked whether fleas jump, we can confidently answer that they jump quite high. That is why the fight against fleas should begin as quickly as possible.

First of all, it is necessary to establish the source of infection. Then treat the room and the animal living in the house

It is important to consider how high fleas jump, so walls should be treated at waist level.

Not only carpets or rugs are at risk, but also sofas, beds, and even soft toys. It is necessary to carry out wet cleaning regularly, using a decoction of wormwood to wash surfaces. Bed linen, blankets and bedspreads should be washed regularly and, if possible, heat treated.

Prevention is the main guarantor of protection against bloodsuckers

It is important to prevent your four-legged pets from interacting with stray animals; after visiting the street, they should be thoroughly combed and collars for cats and dogs should be used.

Flea prevention

• regular examination of pets;
• regular brushing and washing of animals;
• regular inspection of the premises: carpets, draperies, furniture, animal beds, in rare cases - bed linen if you allow animals on the bed;
• vacuuming all hard-to-reach places, especially cracks and breaks in the floor, eliminating dust accumulations in the apartment;
• washing and drying animal bedding.

Cold living conditions lead to the fact that the larvae die without going through the pupation stage. Humidity below 45% will also cause death.

Types and size

There are about 2,500 species of fleas in the world that live on animals and birds.

Types of fleas that are more common:

• feline;
• canine;
• human;
• bird;
• rat.

The size of the parasite depends on the species. The length of the largest flea reaches 13 mm. This species can be found in North America and only in the habitats of the mountain beaver.

Flea lifestyle

The flea belongs to the order of blood-sucking arthropods. The insect moves by jumping, which can reach 30 cm in height and 50 cm in length. The body of the parasite is flattened laterally and covered with bristles; this structure allows it to move quickly in the animal’s fur. There is a sensory organ on the abdomen that signals the approach of a potential food source and a change in temperature.

Where live

Most often, fleas can be found on dogs and cats, so it may seem that the animals harbor parasites. In reality, warm-blooded animals and humans serve only as a source of food for fleas.

After feeding on blood, the insect jumps off the cat or dog to find a place to breed. In the apartment, parasites live in animal bedding, long-pile carpeting, and the floor. In nature, fleas choose places close to animal habitats. These could be holes, bird nests, garbage dumps, basements.

Stages of flea development.

The life cycle of an insect consists of the following stages:

1. Egg.
2. Larva.
3. Doll.
4. An adult, or imago.

2 weeks after laying, larvae emerge from the eggs and eat the feces of adult insects, blood residues, and organic matter. At favorable temperature and humidity, the larva can emerge from the egg in 2 days. Before the formation of the pupa, the larva goes through 3 stages of molting. The time it takes for an adult to emerge from a pupa depends on environmental conditions and ranges from 1-2 weeks to 1 year.

With good nutrition, fleas multiply quickly: a female can make 2-3 clutches per day, that is, lay up to 30 eggs per day. But more often she has enough strength to make one clutch of eggs. During her life, the female lays up to 500 eggs, after which she dies.

Habitats

Fleas feed on the blood of animals, and live and lay eggs in dark places: carpet, basement, cracks, furniture, bedding, grass, booths, stones, and so on. They settle no higher than a meter in height, so the bites of people who discover them are located on the legs. They prefer beds and mattresses and go out hunting at night.

There are mainly two types of fleas that take root on dogs: the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) and the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). The most common is the cat one. Fleas are very dangerous.

Signs of a pest in an animal:

• anxiety and aggression;
• scratches and bites himself;
• red spots from scratching;
• When bathing, fleas jump off.

Without a food source, parasites can live up to two months. At this time, females cannot reproduce, as this requires fresh blood. If a dog or other object of hunger dies, then the fleas do not linger on them. They do not like high temperatures, but prefer dark, cool and damp places.

Flea biology

The flea is, in its own way, an “extraordinary parasite.” Her habits regarding living conditions and nutrition are unusual. It mainly parasitizes warm-blooded animals, these include birds and mammals, but there are varieties of fleas that also bite cold-blooded animals (reptiles), which is still not the rule, but the exception.

The flea is called a nest-burrow parasite, this is due to the fact that the most favorable climate is created for them in the homes of birds and animals. The fact is that fleas do not live on their prey permanently. Once full, they can spend some time in the fur or feathers of their owner, after which they leave their feeding area. At the same time, they are always nearby, be it a doghouse, a rodent hole or a bird’s nest, where the presence of a victim in them is a guarantee for the flea that the food will be received on time.

If there is someone for a flea to parasitize, then the insect will feed daily. But this does not mean that without eating they will die. A flea can remain without food for quite a long time, sometimes from several weeks to three months. After such abstinence, the parasite rushes at its victim with redoubled force.

Considering this circumstance, a person is best suited for a flea to play the role of a victim, especially if he does not maintain the hygiene of his home.

Representatives of different types of fleas have distinctive features associated with food intake. It is enough for one type of ectoparasites to receive food once a day, but at the same time, they suck in such an amount of blood that they are not able to digest it (this can be seen from the waste of their vital activity). Eating can last from 1 minute to several hours. If the flea's habitat is an animal's nest or burrow, the parasite can receive food several times during the day, absorbing a small amount of blood at a time.

Fleas have such a specific feature - they change their owner. This property does not apply to bat fleas, where the parasites feed exclusively on the blood of a given individual.

Fleas can be found in all corners of the earth: in European countries, in Asia, in Africa and even in Antarctica. To maintain their life cycle, these parasites require a temperature of +18 to 27 degrees. They die when the air heats up to +45 degrees and when the thermometer drops to -15. Unfavorable temperatures for them can be compared to the use of an insecticide.

Lifestyle and behavioral characteristics

Most often, fleas parasitize animals that have a permanent shelter. Those who use a nest, burrow or other shelter occasionally from time to time are less likely to be attacked by bloodsuckers. Usually the flea does not live permanently on the victim's body. She jumps on it to feed and then returns to the litter of the nest or burrow.

Infected animals

There are so-called “stationary” ectoparasites. They parasitize animals that have no shelter. In order not to lose the owner, such fleas do not leave his body. Most often this applies to fleas of marsupials and artiodactyl mammals. Another reason for permanent residence on the victim’s body is the need for regular nutrition.

The vast majority of fleas are not too picky in choosing a victim and can parasitize various animals. The exception is fleas of bats, which recognize only this species of animal as a host.

How to get rid of fleas in an apartment?

If you already have these parasites in your apartment, then the best remedy for fleas will be special insecticides that can destroy fleas even in the most neglected rooms. Since fleas could not even physically eat poisonous bait, means of combating them are made in the form of sprays, powders and suspensions that affect the nervous system of fleas.

When treating a room with aerosol preparations, it is necessary to temporarily evacuate all the inhabitants of the house, and then thoroughly ventilate the room and do a thorough wet cleaning.

Among the best flea medications are:

• Raptor spray with a pleasant mint scent. It is safe and effective; usually two cylinders are enough to treat a one-room apartment.
• Sinuzan is an effective and professional remedy for fleas. Its disadvantage is the unpleasant smell.
• Biorin is a professional product that destroys not only fleas, but also other insects and parasites.

After exterminating fleas, you should definitely do a general wet cleaning of the house, and generally monitor cleanliness, since unsanitary conditions and dirt are the most favorable environment for these insects.

Why are fleas so jumpy?

Scientists have been trying to understand how fleas jump for 44 years. Experts began to unravel the secret back in 1967.

Then G. Bennett-Clark discovered that before jumping, the pest accumulates energy in elastic pads located at the ends of the limbs and consisting of resilin (an elastomeric protein).

But scientists were able to get all the answers only in 2010. The mystery was solved by researchers from the laboratory of M. Burrows (Cambridge).

As it turns out, fleas don't jump in the dark. Based on this, specialists filmed videos in low light. So, scientists filmed 10 individuals making 51 jumps.

The video was then slowed down, allowing the researchers to study the movement patterns of the ectoparasites. It turned out that to jump, wingless animals use the joints of their hind legs as levers and springs.

This system allows the ectoparasite, through a powerful energy release, to make a sharp leap upward or forward.

It is noteworthy that 2 studies were conducted 50 years ago. The results of the experiments were the same. Thus, fleas gain the ability to jump due to the presence of developed muscles on their legs.

Studies have proven that wingless ectoparasites travel a distance that is 200 times greater than the length of its own body. The secret of this ability lies not only in developed muscles, but also in the spring-like anatomy of the body.

The discovery of scientists contributed to the emergence of 2 hypotheses:

1. the parasite jumps, making a dash, on his knees.
2. The insect is able to jump high thanks to the joints of its hind legs. The parasite gets on all fours and from this position jumps up and in length.

However, scientists M. Burrows and G. Sutton are confident that the secret has already been solved. After all, research results have clearly proven that the insect has spines on its hind limbs, using which it hooks onto the surface and pushes.

That is, the parasite kneels down before jumping.

The researchers also found that the hind limbs of the flea beetle function as a single system of levers. The ectoparasite lowers its legs and then suddenly launches a “coil spring”.

Much of the mystery of the wingless ectoparasite's leap has been solved. But there are some aspects that remain unsolved. For example, it is not known how the insect folds its limbs to charge the “spring.”

Slobbering Penny

The common slobber, or slobbering frog (lat. Philaenus spumarius) is an insect belonging to the family of pennine cicadas (lat. Aphrophoridae). This small (5-6.7 mm) insect outdid the flea itself. Scientists have been able to establish that the pennix is ​​capable of jumping to a height of 60-70 cm.

At the same time, the speed of the cicada’s separation from the surface is about 3.1 m per second, which is 3 times faster than that of its predecessor. Just imagine that if this insect became the size of a person, it could easily jump over a skyscraper. Impressive, isn't it?!

For some living creatures, jumping is a common way of movement, for others it is a lifeline, but for most of them it is another way to overcome all sorts of obstacles. Without this skill, many of them would have had a hard time.

Methods of movement of fleas

Blood-sucking pests do not have wings. They disappeared under the influence of evolution, since a winged insect is easier to crush. Moreover, flight devices make movements difficult.

Fleas have 3 pairs of developed, long limbs . The leading method of movement of insects is a jump, performed thanks to a strong push of 2-3 pairs of legs. But some varieties of ectoparasites have short legs, so they are constantly on the host’s body.

Jumping

Answering the question whether fleas can jump, entomologists give a clear positive answer. Moreover, jumping is the favorite method of movement of ectoparasites.

Many fleas jump when danger appears, moving so quickly that human eyes are not able to catch the movement.

Insects need fast jumps to find their owner.

They fly

Many people wonder whether fleas can fly. The answer is clear: blood-sucking ectoparasites do not have this ability.

A flying flea at home is an optical illusion. The illusion is created because the ectoparasite can jump quickly and high.

All flea beetles do not have wings. In the process of evolution they lost them. After all, adaptations for flight would prevent them from moving along the host’s hairline and leading a parasitic lifestyle.

Running

Fleas can run. They do this mainly when they are in search of a host. But whenever possible, insects prefer to jump.

Better than fleas are the lice that live in people's hair. This type of ectoparasite does not move using wings or jumps, but crawls quickly.

Puhoedova are capable of covering a distance of 20 cm in 60 seconds.

crawling

Fleas often live on the floor. They move by jumping, but when they land on the host’s body, they crawl over it, grabbing his hair.

The movement of pests occurs with the participation of many bristles and spines located throughout the body. Fleas can also crawl using ctenidia, combs located on the head.

How to get rid of parasites

If parasites appear in your home, you can get rid of them on your own, or you can seek the help of specialists. Sometimes it happens that independent actions do not lead to the desired result.

Professional pest control

Calling a special service is expensive, but the results of disinfestation will last a long time. First, a specialist will inspect the area to assess the situation. After deciding on the treatment method, a time is set for which the room needs to be prepared.

Professional pest control is carried out using three methods:

• hot fog;
• cold fog;
• fine spraying.

The operating principle of cold and hot fog treatment is identical. The surfaces are irrigated with a working solution using a generator. When sprayed, small particles of liquid scatter like fog, and the death of insects and their larvae occurs almost instantly.

The difference between the cold and hot processing methods lies in the temperature of the composition. Hot mist irrigation is considered the most effective, but its use can negatively affect furniture, wallpaper and interior items.

The small-drop processing method is the most budget-friendly. Disinfectant liquid is sprayed using a mechanical or electric sprayer.

Flea sprays

You can get rid of fleas in your apartment yourself using commercial aerosols.

Using the can is quite simple, but the product is toxic and must be sprayed carefully. If you follow all the instructions, then in a short time you can quickly and safely get rid of parasites that have entered the house

The sequence of actions when getting rid of fleas using an aerosol is as follows:

• close windows and doors;
• move furniture away from the walls and open access to corners and baseboards;
• spray the product on the floor, walls, furniture, corners and all places where parasites live;
• leave for several hours;
• ventilate the room and clean it.

If there is a possibility of being in any other place, then it is advisable not to wash the floor for 2-3 days so that all the larvae die and fleas do not reappear.

The most famous household sprayers are Dichlorvos, Raptor, and Raid. These products are affordable and easy to use, but when working with them, do not forget about personal protective equipment. It is advisable to wear gloves and goggles, and protect your respiratory system with a mask or gauze bandage.

Solutions against parasites

In addition to aerosols, you can purchase special anti-parasite products at hardware stores. They are diluted with water and are intended for washing floors and spraying surfaces.

New generation chemicals are safe for people and animals and have virtually no odor. The most effective substances in the fight against midges are permethrin, pyrethrum, fipronil, which are part of well-known flea solutions such as “Tsifoks”, “Tetrix”, “Get”, “Zone”, “Executioner”. The drug “Cucaracha” is popular, but it has a strong smell; it must be handled carefully, observing all safety measures.

Folk remedies for flea removal

With the help of folk remedies, you can get rid of pests completely free of charge. Of course, if there are a large number of parasites, it will be difficult to completely eliminate fleas. It is advisable to use folk remedies in the fight against bloodsuckers not separately, but in combination with chemicals or as prophylaxis. But with long-term and regular use, even fighting with folk remedies can remove fleas from the house.

The most popular means:

1. Mix 200 grams of salt and soda, treat carpets, furniture, fleecy surfaces, then vacuum up.
2. Scatter citrus peels in the corners of rooms, cabinets, and on tables, window sills and furniture.
3. An excellent remedy for fleas in the house is a mixture of garlic and yeast. Grind the ingredients and sprinkle them on surfaces, leave for a day, and then vacuum.
4. Sprinkle fresh spruce needles on fleecy surfaces, leave for a while and remove.
5. You can use bunches of calamus, peppermint, and wormwood. Place plants around the house, not forgetting cabinets, drawers and carpets.
6. You can prepare a safe composition from eucalyptus, wormwood and tansy in equal parts. Infuse the plants with boiled water and let steep for several hours. Treat the surfaces with the resulting liquid, and for convenience, you can pour the composition into a spray bottle and irrigate the areas where fleas accumulate.
7. Essential oils of lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus are also very effective in fighting parasites. They can be used to fumigate a room or drip onto surfaces to spread the smell.

Fleas

Fleas (order Siphonaptera) are small (0.5-5 mm), wingless insects that parasitize mammals and birds. More than 2000 species of fleas are known, of which more than 500 species are in our country. The number of synanthropic species is about 30.

There are no eyes; usually there are 2 simple eyes, but they may also be absent; the coxae of all legs are elongated, the 4 hind legs are more developed than the others with thickened tibiae and femurs; on the surface of the body, along with hairs and bristles of the usual type, there are often rows of strong, wide denticles; mouthparts of piercing-sucking type; The pointed upper lip and bristle-like serrated upper jaws are involved in piercing the skin and sucking blood. A laterally compressed body with a small head and antennae hidden in special recesses provides fleas with the opportunity to move unhindered in the hair or feathers of the host. Fleas are insects with complete metamorphosis and develop through the stages of egg, larvae (3 instars), pupa, and imago. Females lay eggs in waste and dust that accumulates in the burrows and nests of animals and birds, sometimes lightly gluing them to the host’s fur. Fleas living in human homes lay eggs in dust, debris found in floor cracks, behind baseboards, and in animal bedding. Females usually lay eggs in batches of 2-13 eggs each. During her life, one female can lay up to 500 eggs. Under favorable conditions (temperature +18-24°C, humidity more than 60%), egg development ends within 2-14 days. The larvae are worm-like, legless. The larvae feed on small particles of the substrate, as well as the feces of adult fleas. The development time for different types of fleas ranges from 8-18 days; under unfavorable conditions, they can last up to 6-8 months. Before pupation, the 3rd instar larva stops feeding and surrounds itself with a silky cocoon, to which small particles of the substrate adhere from the outside. Under optimal conditions, this stage is completed within 6-10 days; if unfavorable - in 1-1.5 years. The duration of the entire development cycle of a flea under optimal conditions takes 16-49 days; the lifespan of adult fleas ranges from 3 months to 1.5 years. Adults emerging from cocoons can immediately begin to suck blood, but they are capable of starving for a long time. Blood sucking lasts from 1 minute to several hours.

Cat flea (Ctcnocepholides felis) and dog flea (Ctcnocepholides canis). This type of insect became a frequent inhabitant of residential premises about 30 years ago, when pile carpets became popular and the number of pets increased. In the basements surveyed in Moscow, cat fleas predominate, the number of which is increasing, despite regularly carried out pest control work. The population of basements with fleas depends on the sanitary condition of the premises and the time of their construction. In some areas of Moscow, the number of basements infested with cat fleas ranges from 0.8 to 90%. In southern regions, these fleas can survive outdoors for a year, feeding on domestic animals. C.felis larvae overwinter in cracks in enclosed spaces. In the premises themselves, fleas are distributed unevenly, accumulating in the areas most favorable for them. Thus, dog fleas are often found in rugs near beds (sofas), since domestic dogs often sleep on beds (sofas) or nearby on a bedding. When an animal jumps off the sofa, flea eggs and from its fur fall onto the rug (bedding). Cat fleas can attack people; they mainly bite the legs and knees at a height where the fleas can jump. Dog fleas are less likely to attack people.

Rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis). Body length is about 2-3 mm. Parasitizes rats, domestic carnivores and fur-bearing animals. The main carrier of the plague. Distributed everywhere.

Chicken flea (Echidnophaga gallinacea). A cosmopolitan parasite of chickens. Fleas suck a lot of blood, which can lead to the death of young birds. In chickens, they are localized on the combs, beard and areas lacking feathers. Initially only a parasite of chickens, the chicken flea has moved on to parasitize a wide variety of groups of birds and mammals, including domestic animals (horses, cattle), causing skin irritation in cats, dogs, rabbits and even humans. It is also found on insectivores and rodents; it is brought by migratory birds. The suction of these fleas leads to irritation and allergic reactions at the site of their localization, and often to the development of secondary infections. The entire development cycle of a chicken flea takes from 40 to 60 days.

Sand flea (Tunga penetrans). A small flea that lives in the tropics. Introduced by humans from tropical America, the flea has spread throughout the world. Adult fleas live on the dirt floors of huts and barns, on sandy soils and on beaches. These fleas are capable of jumping to a height of 15-35 cm. The body length of a sexually mature male is 1 mm. The male bites and sucks the blood of people and animals, like a common flea; the fertilized female penetrates the epidermis of the skin (usually under the fingernails or toenails, between the fingers) and becomes an intradermal endoparasite. The abdomen of the female that has penetrated the skin grows and after 5-6 days reaches the size of a pea, in which several hundred eggs mature. From the wound the female “shoots” eggs 0.6 mm in size. The fertility of these fleas is extreme: they secrete up to 200 eggs per day, and lay several thousand throughout their lives. After 2-4 days, legless larvae 1.5 mm long emerge from the eggs. The larvae live on dirt floors, in dry sandy soils, and in shady areas of beaches, feeding on organic matter. Tunga penetrans is the only flea species that has only two larval stages (instead of three): development from the first stage to the second lasts only one day. After three weeks, the larvae pupate, and after 11 days they turn into adults. The disease caused by this type of flea is called sarcopsillosis. It creates serious problems for people in areas where this flea is distributed and poses a serious danger to vacationers.

Tien Shan flea or alakurt (Vermipsylla alakurt). Alakurt, or the sheep flea, causes great harm to horses, camels, cows and sheep in Central and Central Asia. This species is one of the largest fleas: males reach 4 mm, females - 4.5-5 mm. The stretched abdomen of a engorged female with mature eggs increases 20 times (up to 7 mm) and greatly elongates in length, making the flea look like a white “motley worm” with transverse black-brown rings of chitinized body segments. The appearance of alakurts on livestock is strictly confined to the winter period, and with the onset of spring they disappear. In winter, alakurts were sometimes also seen riding mountain sheep - argali, foxes, wolves and dogs. Being hungry, fleas also bite humans. Fleas attach very firmly to the skin and are difficult to separate. Sucking a lot of blood, alakurts during mass reproduction greatly exhaust animals (especially young ones), sometimes causing their death.

Human flea (Pulex irritans). Body length 1.5-4 mm, cosmopolitan, common both in agrocenoses and in populated areas. Found on dogs, cats, horses, pigs. People who work with animals often bring these fleas into their homes. The human flea can jump to a height of 32-50 cm. It actively drinks the blood of people and in some southern regions is the main indoor parasite. Fleas are most numerous in rooms with wooden floors, where dust and debris accumulate in the cracks. When moving into an empty house, a massive hatch of insects may occur from the cocoons located in the cracks, intensively attacking people and animals.

Harm. Fleas carry the pathogens of plague and rat typhus. There is information in the literature about the ability of fleas to transmit (in experiments) pathogens of pseudotuberculosis, brucellosis, and tularemia. The causative agent of Lyme disease (Borrellia burgdoferi), as well as the causative agent of Marseille fever (Rickettsia conori), HFRS, were isolated from cat fleas. In addition, fleas are intermediate hosts of some helminths. In humans, multiple flea bites cause scratching, complicated by dermatitis, such as pulkiosis. When there is a high number of insects in the premises, people develop allergic reactions.

Control measures. The destruction of fleas in populated areas involves the mandatory extermination of rodents (deratization) with the simultaneous treatment of rodent burrows with insecticides. For preventive purposes, premises are regularly cleaned using a vacuum cleaner; when washing floors, soap or washing powder must be added to the water.

Pets should be washed periodically with pet shampoo or soap containing an insecticide. Gaps in floors and walls are sealed, earthen floors are cemented. The floors, cracks behind the baseboards, walls up to a height of 1 m, and animal bedding are treated with insecticides, which after treatment are rolled up for 2-4 hours and then washed. Bedding is washed. Particular attention should be paid to deratization and disinfestation of public facilities (stations, airports, clinics, schools, clubs, etc.), where there are usually a lot of people.

To kill fleas, organophosphorus insecticides, carbamates, and pyrethroids are used, preferably in the form of powders. Since cocoons are less sensitive to insecticides than larvae and adults, treatment must be repeated after 2 weeks. Often, to kill cat fleas, it is necessary to carry out 2, and more often 3-4, repeated treatments. To prevent fleas from breeding in attics and basements, the premises should be cleared of debris and clutter, animal access should be limited, and if rodents are present, deratization should be carried out. To quickly kill insects indoors, aerosol cans designed to combat flightless insects can be used, but the effect when using aerosols is short-lived and after destroying adult fleas using an insecticide aerosol, it is necessary to treat the premises with preparative forms of residual insecticides (powders, suspensions, etc. ). ISH-diflubenzuron (dimilin) ​​is recommended for the destruction of fleas. Treatment of the substrate where the larvae are located at a rate of 1 mg per 1 kg of substrate causes anomalies in the development of larvae and in the formation of cocoons. Methoprene and pyriproxyfen (PAYP) are recommended for use in combination with an insecticide. In places where people gather and where food is stored, it is recommended to use rodenticide baits to kill rodents. To protect pets, flea collars containing an insecticide are used, since fleas often accumulate on the neck or belly of cats and dogs. Recently, to kill fleas in cats and dogs, they began to use tablets containing a systemic insecticide (lufneuron), which, when released into the animal’s blood, ensures the death of insects as they feed on the animal’s blood. Repellent preparations applied to the skin or when treating clothing with them can protect people from flea bites in places of temporary stay. In places; heavily infested with fleas, you can use clothing treated with pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin 0.5 g/m2).

Populations of X. cheopis, C. felis, P. irritans, resistant to organochlorine insecticides, have been found in many countries of Southeast Asia, Turkey, Egypt, South America, and the USA; to organophosphate insecticides - in India, Tanzania and Madagascar.

The number of fleas in the premises is counted using sticky sheets, which are laid out for 24 hours at the rate of 2 sheets (20x30 cm) per 10 m2 of floor area. The effectiveness of treatment is taken into account the next day and then once every 3~5 days for 3 weeks. The destruction of fleas in open areas is regulated by special instructions and methodological materials.

Articles:

Arthropods limiting the number of fleas of small gerbils in the Volga-Ural sands. Samurov M.A.

Formation of resistance to insecticides in flea populations. Roslavtseva S.A.

Books:

Are fleas pets or pets? Alekseev A.N., Dubinina E.V.

Process Features

Of course, learning to jump 2 meters in just 1 day is an absolutely unrealistic task, but you need to work hard to achieve it.

The best solution to this issue would be to conduct training sessions in a specially equipped jumping sector.

The main task for the athlete here will be to achieve the greatest horizontal length after a standing jump.

The technology for performing the jump begins with a set starting position, then pushing off from a special board at the edge of the pit with two feet and then jumping into a pit filled with sand.

In this case, the distance result will be considered the distance from the mark on the board to the beginning of the hole left by the athlete’s foot from the landing on the sand.

During the flight phase, the athlete can use techniques of varying complexity, such as:

• In step;
• Bend over;
• Scissors.

Description of the flea

The flea's body varies from 1 to 5 millimeters; females of some species can reach up to 1 centimeter in size during periods of intensive feeding. The fertilized female is 1.5 centimeters long.

The average lifespan of a flea lasts from 3 weeks to 2 years.

The flea's body is covered with a chitinous covering, which makes it difficult to crush, has a small head and abdomen, the body has a flattened shape, this structure allows it to hide and easily move in the fur, feathers of the owner and folds of clothing.

The color of a flea can be either yellow, reddish, dark brown or black.

They prefer peace, hiding in the apartment: in the cracks of the floor, on the pile of the carpet or clothes, bed linen or closet.

Fleas cannot fly, only jump, covering long distances for the insect.

The presence of various spines, bristles, and jagged combs on the body and head protect the flea; it clings tightly to the fur and cannot be removed or crushed only with the help of a nail plate.

Fleas jump on humans and animals only to feed.

On the head of the insect there are eyes and “antennae”, with the help of which the males hold the female fleas during mating; when mating does not occur, the “antennae” are retracted.

The insect bites through the skin with a piercing-sucking mouthpart, the saliva it releases does not allow the blood to clot, the flea, making its way to the blood vessel, begins to suck blood, in the process its abdomen can expand.

They prefer peace, hiding in the apartment: in the cracks of the floor, on the pile of the carpet or clothes, bed linen or closet.

A unique feature is that the flea has a sensory apparatus that reacts to all changes in the environment, this warns the insect of danger.

As for the reproductive organs: females have oviducts, ovaries and spermatic receptacles, and males have a reproductive claw.

JUMPING ANIMALS

Among the animals there are quite a few gifted jumpers. The African impala antelope makes magnificent jumps 10-12 meters long.

. In addition, her jump is quite high. Thanks to its exceptional jumping ability, the impala saves its life: when running away from a predator pursuing it, it does not turn in front of an obstacle in the form of bushes, but jumps over them in one jump, leaving the pursuer at a loss.

Puma

- a predatory cat from America, which is also called
a maneless lion
, jumps in height higher than all other representatives of its family - 4 meters.
However, lions and leopards
are not far behind her - the height of their jumps reaches 3 meters, and yet the animal often jumps with prey, which sometimes weighs as much as the predator itself.

Are flea bites dangerous for humans?

As mentioned above, the insect is a rather dangerous pest, as it is a carrier of all kinds of diseases and parasites. A flea bite is extremely dangerous for a person and will lead to unpleasant consequences, for example, amputation of a limb if the bite caused rotting.

If there are people in the apartment who are prone to allergies or skin problems, animals and children, you can get rid of fleas using absolutely safe means.

Fleas carry:

• plague;
• anthrax;
• tularemia;
• dermatological and allergic diseases;
• worms;
• encephalitis;
• hepatitis B, C.

A person can become infected with typhus, fever and many other diseases.

It’s not enough to get rid of parasites. To ensure that they do not return, certain preventive measures must be followed.

Therefore, keep an eye out for skin rashes, especially if there is a possibility that you have been bitten by a flea. The reaction to a bite can vary from simple redness and itching to allergic reactions, mouth ulcers and symptoms of diseases carried by insects.

Parasite Jumping Characteristics

What is also surprising is how far a flea can jump. After all, the average size of the parasite is only 2-3 mm. However, a flea's jump in height can reach up to 0.3 m, while the bloodsucker can jump 0.18 m in length - a distance exceeding its size by more than 100 times. The speed of the flea at the beginning of the jump is no less impressive, and it is about 1.9 m/s.

Parasites especially use this method of movement when there is danger, jumping so quickly that people sometimes cannot even understand whether fleas are jumping or crawling. This unique ability is also necessary for insects to find prey.

Adults living in open space lay eggs not only in animal fur, but also on the ground itself. The offspring that appear after a while are forced to make jumps, going in search of a warm-blooded host - a source of food. Since fleas jump very high and with great speed, they very quickly find a suitable object for themselves in the form of a person or animal.

Flea jump

What causes the jumping ability of insects

The technique of insect jumping has been studied since 1967. The theory of how a flea jumps appeared in 2010.

Studies have shown that parasites do not jump in the dark, so low lighting was used for filming. When viewed in slow motion, it was discovered that the joints of the insects' hind legs are used as springs and levers. This is facilitated by the developed muscles of their legs.

The insect kneels, its body compresses like a spring. This is possible thanks to the elastic shield in the parasite's chest. Clinging to the spines on its hind legs and releasing a large amount of energy, the parasite makes a strong jump.

Why are they dangerous?

It doesn’t matter what type of fleas has settled in the house: dog, cat or sand fleas - they are all sources of danger for people and pets. Insects are capable of relentlessly biting other creatures in the house until they are exterminated

At first, experts believed that a person could be a carrier of only one type of flea, “Pulex irritans,” but after more detailed research it became clear that any other types of similar insects could cause trouble for people.

This is what the fleas that live on the floors of our apartments look like

Of course, not every pest can survive on the human body, but cases of fleas surviving in conditions unusual for them are not very uncommon.

For man

This is what flea bites look like

Fleas pose a serious danger to people, and bites can have consequences:

1. A sharp reaction of the body, expressed by the appearance of rashes near the bitten areas, enlarged lymph nodes, the appearance of allergic reactions, and increased body temperature.
2. Severe itching, pain in the bitten areas.
3. If you start scratching the bites, skin damage, suppuration and inflammation are possible.
4. When neglected, wounds develop into pyoderma or ulcers.
5. Severe pain from bites. In insects, the enzyme responsible for anesthetizing the bite site does not appear immediately, so young individuals bite painfully.
6. The appearance of nervous disorders.
7. Infections with serious infectious diseases.

For pets

Dogs most often carry the Ctenocephalus canis flea. Puppies become infected with insects from their mothers, mothers from neighboring dogs.

Dogs itch due to fleas

The most common reason for the appearance of insects on the body of animals is unsatisfactory living conditions for the pet. Sometimes fleas can appear due to poor nutrition.

The animal cannot be warned not to start scratching the bites. If you neglect your pet, dermatitis appears due to itching and scratching. Insects can serve as carriers of many dangerous diseases. The minimal harm is a strong desire to scratch the body until wounds appear.

Description of insects

The insects' body is smooth and equipped with spines that help them cling to their prey. Fleas have 3 pairs of legs; the rear ones are longer and provide jumping ability. Insects are good jumpers, so they fly to the victim without direct contact.

Body length – 3 millimeters, color – brown. The compressed sides allow for easy movement between hairs. They usually live outside the human body, visiting for food. They jump quickly, up to 50 centimeters. It is difficult to catch and crush an insect.

The eggs are thrown in small batches in different places, sometimes on the host. Larvae hatch, similar to worms, which actively move, live in garbage and dust, and feed on organic debris there.

Physiology

They feed on the blood of warm-blooded creatures, including humans. They can live near people or animals, hiding almost all the time when they are not looking for food.

They live up to 500 days, but usually much less. If they don't find people, they terrorize domestic animals.

Why are they dangerous?

The main threat lies in the diseases that fleas spread. Among the most significant and likely:

• salmonellosis;
• hepatitis;
• helminthiases;
• tick-borne encephalitis.

Even if infection does not occur, many people suffer from skin irritation, peeling, and loss of appearance. Often, especially in children, allergic reactions are added. Unpleasant neighbors can seriously ruin your life, leading to neurosis.

What does a bite look like?

The bite site is a small red bump that rises slightly above the skin. With a large number of wounds, they resemble a large rash. If scratched - swelling of the skin, abraded areas of the epidermis, redness.

Distribution routes

The human flea takes a liking to empty rooms near humans. They live in close proximity and are brought in mainly by the person himself on clothes, shoes, things from the attic or closet.

Fleas move well on their own, they sense where they can feed, so they try to live nearby. They easily migrate from the extreme floors of houses to apartments.

Signs of the presence of a parasite

If fleas have settled down to live in an apartment, it is impossible not to detect their traces. Household members are covered with red spots and itch. Small eggs are easy to spot in different places. Although the tracks resemble those of mosquitoes, flying squeakers are usually detected immediately.

Standing long jump technique

Desire alone is not enough to learn how to jump effectively. First you need to learn the technique of long jump from a place or from a run.

Preparation before take-off

Taking the starting position is an important stage that allows you to concentrate and concentrate all your strength. Unlike the running long jump, here the initial phase is the starting line.

That is, it is necessary:

• with your feet shoulder-width apart, stand at the starting point;
• move your arms slightly behind your back (back), and lower them down with your elbows bent;
• bend the hip and knee joints at the level of the socks;
• fix your feet without lifting them off the ground.

Repulsion

The first repulsion should occur immediately after preparation. If you delay your readiness at this stage, then you will no longer be able to perform a long jump correctly from a standing position. Indeed, at this moment the torso begins inertial movement.

At the same time, during the shock period you need to have time to:

• make a sharp lunge with your hands in front of you;
• tighten the hip joints;
• straighten your legs (knees) at the joints;
• rise sharply from the ground.

Flight and landing

Correctly executed flight and landing will allow you to jump far.

During the flight you must:

• stretch your whole body to a straight line, smoothly straightening your knees;
• Before landing, lower your arms and bring your feet forward.

Contact with the surface should be easy and smooth for the jumper. For balance, knees are bent and arms are brought forward. This helps prevent injuries to the joints and their ligaments. When landing, you need to straighten up.

In addition, there are two important rules that will help you overcome the maximum distance when jumping from a standing position:

• the body should be at an angle of 45 degrees;
• You cannot land on perfectly straight legs and feet.

What do flea bites look like?

Externally, flea bites are similar in many ways to mosquito bites, but they take much longer to heal. Flea bites, unlike tick or ant bites, have only one puncture. Within half an hour, the bite site swells, turns red and itches very much. After one or two days, the area turns into a small wound or abscess and may even bleed.

What distinguishes flea bites from bedbug bites is their chaotic location.

What chemicals to use

Not all flea products sold are effective enough. Preference should be given to those containing the following substances:

1. Pyrethrin.
2. Pyrethroid.
3. Imidacloprid.
4. Nitenpyram.
5. Selamectin.
6. Fipronil.

In addition to these modern and practically harmless insecticides, there are others that have been used for many decades and have long proven their effectiveness.

We are talking about products created on the basis of organophosphorus compounds:

• Chlorophos;
• Chlorpyrifos;
• Karbofos;
• Dichlorvos.

They, however, have one, but quite significant flaw - high toxicity

Therefore, they should be used with great caution. Advantage (besides efficiency) – low price

Among other quite effective drugs, it is worth mentioning the products supplied to the market under the Raptor brand. Many of them are produced in the form of aerosols and, according to consumer reviews, are quite effective. They are created on the basis of a modern insecticide - cypermethrin. This substance has no unpleasant odor and is completely harmless to both humans and pets.

Another manufacturer, Raid, is also very popular among Russians. Aerosols are made on the basis of the same cypermethrin. Of the entire range, the most effective is the drug that destroys both cockroaches and ants.

Remedies for basement fleas

An integrated approach to the fight against basement fleas, the use of modern, proven and professional insecticides is the most effective way to quickly and permanently get rid of annoying parasites.

Chemical preparations for basement fleas

Chemical basement flea treatments are widely used as a method of exterminating the insects. They are represented by professional preparations used by pest control companies, and household solutions, aerosols, and sprays.

To independently treat an apartment, you should use chemicals that are not capable of harming humans and warm-blooded animals. The following effective insecticides can be found in specialized stores:

• “Delta zone” – causes rapid death of insects, has a prolonged effect. The main active ingredient is deltamethrin, which paralyzes the nervous system.
• "Raptor" is an insecticide that is suitable for treating residential premises.
• “Get” is a drug in the form of an aerosol with peritroid, which has a detrimental effect on the nervous system of insects.
• Dichlorvos will help in the initial stages of the fight, when the number of parasites has not reached large numbers.
• "Cucaracha" is a toxic solution against fleas.
• “Executioner” is an insecticide for bedbugs and fleas.
• “Taran” is a substance that has a detrimental effect on most insects. The key advantage is that it destroys not only adults, but also larvae and eggs.
• “Clean House” is a product for residential premises. The main active ingredient is dust, which has long been used in the fight against parasites and harmful insects. It should be remembered that it is also dangerous for dogs, cats and other warm-blooded animals.

Most insecticides are available in aerosol form. They are simple and easy to use. When using them, it is important to observe safety precautions and follow some rules:

• the room is treated with gloves and a mask that protects the respiratory system;
• Before spraying the chemical, remove all food from the premises;
• There should be no strangers, children or pets in the apartment.

Before starting work, you should carefully study the manufacturer's instructions. In most cases, before spraying the toxic component, it is necessary to close all windows and doors, and after treatment, leave the room for at least 60-80 minutes. After the time has passed, it is necessary to carry out a thorough general wet cleaning of the apartment.

To reduce the likelihood of reappearance of basement fleas and to destroy all blood-sucking individuals, disinfestation should be carried out 3-5 times with a break of 7-10 days. This will allow you to cope not only with adult insects, but also with newborn larvae.

Folk remedies for basement fleas

Folk remedies for basement fleas involve the use of available household preparations, aromatic plants and herbs. They are less effective than insecticides and are more suitable as deterrents and preventative measures. Traditional methods of control will help eliminate isolated individuals, but will not get rid of the problem when the number of basement fleas has reached a critical limit. The most popular methods of insect control:

1. Lighting a sulfur bomb in the basement, which with toxic smoke and generated heat forces fleas to leave the room. An additional advantage of this method is the destruction of bacteria and fungi, protection from rodents. During processing of the object, all windows and doors are closed. When the smoke clears and covers all surfaces, the basement is ventilated.
2. Plants with a pungent aroma can repel blood-sucking insects and protect against their reappearance. For these purposes, lavender, mint, lemon balm, tansy and immortelle are used.
3. Basement fleas try to avoid rooms whose surfaces are treated with a soapy saline solution. A concentrate of yeast and ground garlic also produces a similar effect.

An effective method of prevention is periodic treatment of the object with ultraviolet radiation. You can use portable lamps for this.

Important.

How does the flea breeding cycle work?

When reproducing, a flea goes through all stages of development. Let's consider this life cycle.

– before fertilization begins, the female must be well-fed; after mating, after a certain period of time, she lays eggs, while pushing them out of herself, which allows the eggs to spread at different distances from each other and in several places and thus preserve most of the offspring; Flea eggs are almost impossible to notice.

– After 2 weeks (sometimes after a few days), larvae begin to appear, similar in appearance to white worms. Larvae, like adults, need food. They use organic rotting remains for food, and they also do not disdain the feces of their parents, where the excrement contains particles of undigested blood. During the growth of the larvae, molting occurs three times, after which they turn into a cocoon (pupa).

– The development of the pupa can last up to several months, it depends on environmental conditions (air temperature, humidity). When the adult matures inside the cocoon, it emerges into the light, ready to parasitize and reproduce.

Fleas and larvae live in the home in the pile of carpets and rugs, in floor crevices and baseboards, on pets' beds, in a word, in places where cleanliness is neglected. In addition, you will not notice the larvae, since they resemble grains, but when working with a microscope, it will be possible to examine the fullness of their stomach.

A female flea can produce about 400-500 eggs during her life, and after each fertilization their number can reach up to 15 eggs at a time. The flea can make its shots only in a well-fed state, and one copulation with the male is enough for it.

How long does a flea live? It depends on different conditions, on its type. On average, the lifespan of a flea is from 3 to 6 months, in rare cases up to 1.5 years. Every time she risks being crushed or destroyed.

Types of fleas, distinctive features

Entomologists say that there are about 2 thousand species of fleas, and these are those fleas that parasitize one type of warm-blooded animal. The average person is unlikely to distinguish a dog flea from a fox flea. This difference can be seen using optical instruments. Scientists studying them can understand the diversity of flea species without a microscope.

The most common types of fleas are:

– The human flea – writers in literary works and in the paintings of artists in the Middle Ages captured the image of a human flea. Take, for example, the high hairstyles of the ladies of that time, which they wore for several months and were treated with lamb fat for durability. They certainly infested with fleas, and to catch them you had to put a flea trap inside your hair. – The cat flea is the most popular among fleas; it can parasitize humans, felines and dogs. They are capable of inflicting multiple bites, unlike their counterparts.

– Rat flea – this flea carries the most serious danger, spreading infectious deadly diseases, such as plague. – The dog flea is one of the above, it is quite large in size and leads a quiet lifestyle, parasitizing mainly on dogs.

This is only a small fraction of the number of flea species that exist on earth. In fact, any genus of mammals is a carrier of its own species of flea.

Causes of fleas in the house

The flea is a blood-sucking insect and belongs to the order of arthropods. The length of its body is only 1-5 mm, but there are some rare species that reach 1 cm. Fleas do not have wings, but have strong and long limbs, thanks to which they move. Some individuals can make long jumps to considerable heights.

If the environment is favorable, the flea lives on average from several months to 2-3 years, and can go without food for a long time. The color of the insect varies from yellow to black, depending on its species and habitat.

Most people associate the appearance of fleas in the house with dirt, lack of cleaning, or the presence of pets. But it happens that there is no pet, the home is clean, but parasites are still present and it is not possible to get rid of them for a long time.

The main reasons for the appearance of fleas in apartments:

• migration of insects from neighbors;
• from public corridors and entrances;
• from pets;
• dust (for example, after repair);
• living in lower floors or basements;
• unsanitary conditions and lack of hygiene;
• from people's clothes and shoes;
• from rodents (rat fleas).

Appearance and structure of fleas

Small jumping bloodsuckers have a fairly characteristic appearance and, even despite their small size, are easily distinguished from other insects. They have a narrow, laterally flattened body 2-5 mm long. Its color is brown, almost black, the surface of the chitinous shell is smooth and shiny. Under a microscope, you can see individual spines and hairs on the flea’s body:

The legs of the last, rear pair are significantly enlarged and have powerful muscles. Thanks to them, these small insects are able to jump far, as a result of which they easily move between shelters in an apartment, and in case of danger they jump so quickly that the jump itself is not noticed by the human eye.

The eyes of fleas are simple, almost non-functional. Fleas receive basic information about the environment using small antennas and a special sensory organ capable of detecting air vibrations.

Moreover, a flea that bit a person today could have fed on a rat or dog a few days ago. And on her body, in her mouth or intestines, there may be viruses and bacteria that she collects from all her food sources.

The oral apparatus of fleas is of the piercing-sucking type; it is equipped with special bristles with which the insect easily pierces the skin. However, due to the relatively small size of the jaws, the flea is forced to literally plunge its head into the skin in order to reach a blood vessel:

Fleas feed mainly during the day, so they can easily be seen jumping around in an apartment during daylight hours. When attacked, the insect usually makes several bites at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. Usually their traces are lined up in a chain, which is why they can sometimes be confused with bedbug bites.