Do Fleas Live on Humans?
WouterFleas are the same insects that bite dogs and cats, but you’d be surprised to learn that humans can be infested with them as well. They live in secluded areas, where they breed and feed on rotting waste. Their bites are painful and leave a red spot up to five millimeters in diameter and a blood point in the center. These bites usually last for two to three days, but they can take up to five days to clear up. They can also cause allergic rashes and hives in hypersensitive individuals.
The flea’s body structure makes it possible for them to jump. Their backs are made of bristles that help them swoop down and jump. They are able to cover a great distance horizontally and vertically. Their hind legs also contain a protein called resilin, which stores energy generated by the movement of their paws at the beginning of the jump. This protein helps them raise their body in order to jump high.
The development of a flea is similar to other species, with the only difference being the size of the adult and the ability of the female to lay more eggs. The female flea will lay around 2000 eggs over the course of her life. Once the female bloodsucker has finished drinking the blood of her host, she will discard the eggs. Once the eggs have matured, the adult flea will begin a journey that will take up to a month.
