Human Fleas

HOW TO IDENTIFY HUMAN FLEAS

Human Flea

Human fleas should not be judged on the basis of their name because unlike it, they have varied hosts to feed on. Like all the other fleas that feed on animals and hide in their fur and hair, human fleas also hide in human hair. They do not bite on the head; they bite on arms and legs instead.

The bites of a human flea can easily be identified by its structure. Unlike other fleas, human fleas leave many bites in the same area that indicates their presence. Human fleas can also be identified by noticing a few symptoms like itching in the head.

Appearance

They are almost identical to all the other fleas. They are dark brown or black in color and have a laterally flattened body. They are wingless and use their long legs to jump on the hosts. They are 1 to 4 mm in size which makes their presence hard to be noticed.

Behavior

The life cycle of a human flea includes four stages of development. The first stage is the egg. As an egg, it is oval-shaped, white, and 0.5 mm in size. The second stage is the larva. As a larva, it is creamy-white or sometimes yellow in color, and 0.6 mm in size.

The third stage is the pupa. As a pupa, it increases and become 4 x 2 mm in size. The fourth stage is the adult. As an adult, it becomes reddish brown in color and varies from 1.5 to 4 mm in size. They feed on warm blood for survival either from a human host or any other suitable host.

Signs

Human fleas can be identified by some of the symptoms of their bites on humans. They are-

Discomfort and itching– A human flea bite can lead to itchiness which can cause a lot of discomforts depending on the affected area.

Red bumps– A human flea bite can cause red bumps on the bitten areas which can be easily felt and seen.

HOW DO YOU GET HUMAN FLEAS

Human fleas do not have a particular source which they use to find their hosts. They just live wherever they are born and then they look for opportunities of finding a suitable host. The worst thing about fleas is that they can use humans and animals for transportation. They can be hiding anywhere and can hop on you or your pet to feed. They can also be transferred by coming into contact with a person, animal, or thing which is already infested by them.

HOW TO GET RID OF HUMAN FLEAS

To get rid of human fleas completely, it is important to make sure that the whole environment is cleaned properly. You can use flea removal shampoo and combs to get rid of fleas from your body and your pests. Wash the materials that came into contact with the fleas with warm water. Vacuum the house and clean the yard as well to leave no reason for them to return. In extreme cases, you should contact the local exterminators.

FACTS ABOUT HUMAN FLEAS

• Female human fleas lay eggs on the body of the host which may result in the eggs being scattered as the host moves.
• Female human fleas can drink up to 15 times more blood than their actual body weight.
• Apart from human fleas, the other species of fleas consider human host as their last resort. They only retort to humans when they’re unable to find a better host.
• As pupas, if they are separated from their host for long then they die.