How Small Can Fleas Get?
Fleas are tiny, blood-sucking insects that live on humans, livestock and pets. Their flat body and six legs are adapted to jumping, allowing them to travel up to 30 cm in a single leap. The flea’s body is covered in spines and hairs. Its head is small and its mouth is designed to pierce the host’s skin. Fleas are brown and have sensory hairs on their upper half.
Although it is nearly impossible to completely eliminate fleas from your home, you can reduce their number by making environmental modifications and using a targeted insecticide. There are many products available on the market to help keep fleas from your pet. For the best results, choose products recommended by a veterinarian or pest control company.
Fleas can infest your home if you have pets, but they can also live in the house without pets. A flea infestation can also occur if you have uninvited guests, such as rodents or raccoons. Fleas are a nuisance in any home, but they can also be damaging to your home. As an added bonus, you may even find that you have a flea problem even if you don’t have any pets.
A flea’s life cycle includes three stages: the egg, larvae and adult. The stages differ from species to species. Flea eggs hatch on the host after a blood meal, and the duration of egg development is determined by environmental conditions. The number of eggs laid also varies. The average cat flea lays about 25 eggs per blood meal and can lay more than 1,000 eggs over its lifetime. The eggs are white and oval in shape, about 1/32 inch long.