Fleas are blood-sucking insects that parasitize animals, birds and humans. More than 2000 species live in the world.
Appearance
The size of fleas does not exceed 0.5 cm, despite the large number of their species. The body is oblong, rounded, flattened on the sides, covered with a chitinous layer. There are 3 pairs of limbs on the body: two pairs are directed to the head, the third pair is back. The hind legs are more powerful compared to the front and perform a jerky function during the jump.
There are bristles on the body, due to which the insect catches on the coat, and because of this it is difficult to comb out. The head is inclined downward, the mouth apparatus is piercing-sucking. On the head are two eyes and a pair of antennae, immersed in antennae fossae, scallops. Antennae are used to fix the female during mating, and scallops help the insect to stay on the surface of the host body. Color can vary from light brown to black.
Flea life cycle
These insects go through a full development cycle. It includes: adult or adult, pupa, larva, egg. The imago lays eggs in the environment. After 14 days, the first type of larvae emerge. They feed on organic debris (particles of skin, hair, feces of adult fleas, etc.). After triple molting, pupate, and after 14 days an adult appears. If there are not favorable conditions around, then the chrysalis remains viable up to 1.5 years.An adult can live up to 2 months.
Flea species
The main types of fleas living in the middle lane include:
- sandy;
- earthen;
- home;
- human
- rat;
- feline;
- chicken;
Sand fleas live in the sand. They differ from other species in a lighter color. They feed on the blood of humans, dogs, cats and other mammals. The main feature of these fleas is the type of female feeding. Females bite into the surface of the skin, get to the vessel and begin to feed. After some time, eggs mature in it, and it increases in size to a pea. When eggs need to be laid, a flea shoots them from the oviduct, while itself remains in the thickness of the skin. All this time, the lesion site hurts, becomes inflamed and disturbs the owner. With a secondary infection, there may be suppuration.
Earth flea.
Habitats: soil, basements, baseboards, furniture. Residents of the first floors, where the humidity in the room is increased, often suffer from these fleas. They feed on the blood of mammals. Outwardly, they practically do not differ from other species.
Home flea
A home flea includes several species that can live indoors. They feed mainly on the blood of dogs and cats, but they can also human. You can find them on animals, in furniture, under the baseboard, in bedding, in animal litter, carpets.
Human flea
Size does not exceed 4 mm, color is dark brown. The length of the jump is half a meter, height is 30 cm. They prefer to eat and live on humans and pigs, but they can also on cats and dogs.This is due to the practically absent hair, which facilitates movement. This flea species does not have cephalic prong teeth, which help with movement in a dense coat.
Rat flea
Reach up to 2 mm in length, the color is light or dark brown. More often live in basements. They feed on the blood of mice and rats. Eggs are laid in rodent habitats. They are considered the most dangerous for the spread of infections.
Cat flea
Reaches up to 0.5 mm in length. The head is flatter than other species. Cats can become infected by them from their fellow tribesmen or on the street. If the animal has a tendency to an allergic reaction to flea saliva, then the sick animal will experience severe itching. Also, the coat will not look well-groomed, there may be pinpoint lesions on the skin that can grow to ulcers and wounds (cats actively lick their places of concern). It is not always possible to find a flea and its excrement on cats. This is due to the active care of the hair of the cat family. For the prevention of infection, there are a large number of funds.
Dog flea
Dimensions do not exceed 5 mm. Close view to cat flea. It can parasitize not only on dogs, but also on cats, humans and other mammals. A carrier of various infections and parasites. As well as cat flea eggs are laid on animals, but since they are not fixed, they end up in the environment.
Chicken flea
Amaze wild birds and domestic animals. A distinctive feature of these insects is the presence of horn forceps in males.Places of bites can be in the eye and beak, where there are practically no feathers. Typical lesions appear on the skin of the bird. They can feed on the blood of other animals and humans, but not for long. In a house where there are no birds, they do not live for a long time.
All types of fleas are carriers of various infections, and if they are found in the house, it is necessary to disinfect the room.
