Among the parasites that most frequently affect animals, regardless of whether they are domestic or farm animals, fleas are at the top. These small insects, whose presence can be difficult to detect, cause a lot of discomfort in your pets and even transmit dangerous diseases.
The first step to fight them is knowing how to recognize them. Do you have problems with this? Don't worry! Below we share this article from our site about the types of fleas and how to identify them. Keep reading!
Types of fleas and their characteristics
In case you didn't know, there are almost 2000 species of fleas around the world, each affecting different animals, although several of them have a preference for certain species. The common flea (Pulex irritans) is a neopteran insect that does not have wings, but whose ability to jump is amazing: it can reach distances up to 200 times its size!
It feeds mainly on blood and body tissues, so needs to inhabit the body from other animals in order to survive. It measures only between 1 and 3.5 millimeters, so at first glance we are not able to appreciate its shape well, ignoring that it has a hard body, with small legs and even tiny hairs.
Flea life cycle
A flea can wait up to two weeks without feeding until the animal that will be its next host approaches, is on some being I live in the grass or even in fabrics such as carpets, clothes, among others. The truth is that they can get on your clothes, so you can take them home without knowing it.
When she has found the host, the female feeds on her blood until it is time to reproduce. Then, lays its eggs, a maximum of 20 each time, but is able to put 600 in all his life The eggs fall from the animal's fur, remaining in the spaces where it rests and other corners of the house.
After two weeks of maturation, the eggs hatch and larvae appear These feed on organic waste (dead skin, among others) until they have reached their maturation phase. After that, prepare a cocoon and when they emerge they are adults, ready to repeat the cycle.
Although it seems simple, think that an animal is usually not parasitized by a single flea, so when your pet is attacked by them they are usually seen in large numbers.
Cat flea
The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), curiously, is not so frequent in this feline, but above all it is found in the dog, although it also affects other mammals such as horses and rabbits. It transmits other parasites with its bite, such as typhus.
How to identify it?
The cat flea is identified by its dark color, very close to black. Its body measures a maximum of 3 millimeters and is flattened. The larvae reach 5 millimeters, with a white color throughout the body.
Dog flea
The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) parasitizes this animal most of the time, although it can also be found, to a lesser extent, on cats and even on humans. Among the parasites that it is capable of transmitting is the dog tapeworm.
How to identify it?
Obviously, it is similar to the cat flea and in many cases it is very difficult to differentiate between them. However, you may be able to identify it because the dog flea has a more reddish body, not as dark as the cat flea and reaches4 millimeters long , that is, it is slightly larger. The larvae do have the same characteristics: white body of 5 millimeters
Fleas on humans
There are different types of fleas, so fleas also parasitize humans, although this is rare today. In principle, the flea that is most comfortable feeding on humans is the common flea, Pulex irritans. However, today our houses and our hygiene habits are very different from those of the past, so this species is rarely found in homes.
How to identify the common flea?
Measures a maximum of 3 millimeters, with a dark body with slight reddish highlightsand its body structure is more rounded. The larvae are white and reach 5 millimeters. Now, some fleas that attack other mammals can occasionally feed on humans. This is what happens with the dog flea and the rat flea.
The rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) parasitizes rats and house mice, as well as humans. It is capable of transmitting the bubonic plague, although today this vector has been eradicated in almost the entire world. Still, they are dangerous because they also transmit typhus
How to identify the rat flea?
Its body is more angular than the other types of fleas, dark in color and 3 millimeters in size. The larvae are white and reach only 2 millimeters.
How do you know if your dog or cat has fleas?
In the battle against fleas, the first thing is to identify them. To do this, sometimes it is not enough to wait to find one, because they are very small. In their larval stage they survive outside the body of the host and if your pet is very hairy they will hide easily. Therefore, we help you detect other signals:
- Itch: A dog or cat with fleas will scratch excessively, especially near the tail, groin, ears and face.
- Dirty Fur: One of the easiest ways to tell if your pet has fleas is because you will begin to see a dirty look on his fur. strange, small black specks that accumulate stuck to the skin. These are flea feces.
- Anemia: when the infestation is advanced and especially in puppies or elderly animals, the constant sucking of blood generates anemia, which puts your pet's life at risk.
- Bite Allergy: Some animals develop an allergy to a flea bite, which is actually a reaction against the saliva of this insect. When this happens, the skin feels swollen and red.
- Wounds: An animal with fleas can go so far as to cause serious injuries due to constant scratching.
For more information, see the articles "How to get rid of fleas on dogs" and "How to get rid of fleas on cats".
How to identify flea bites in humans?
If you think you've been bitten by a flea, we offer you this guide with quick ways to identify its bite:
- They usually attack ankles, legs, elbows and armpits.
- The sting takes the form of a swollen red circle, with a dot in the center.
- several stings appear in the same area.
- Itchingoccurs in the areas with red circles.
- Injuries and hair loss may occur due to scratching.
- Blood traces may be found on clothing.
Regardless of whether you are interested in knowing the types of fleas that affect humans or animals, there are different antiparasitic products on the market to attack to fleas that are quite effective. Any of these treatments must be accompanied by a thorough cleaning of the home to eliminate eggs and larvae. Likewise, do not forget to deworm your dog or your cat following the instructions of the veterinarian.
