How Tough Are Fleas?
A flea infestation can take time to control and eliminate. Although vacuuming can help, you may have to treat your home with several different treatments. You may also have to wait a few days for pupae to hatch before you get rid of the fleas. However, by doing so, you can kill most of the fleas before they start breeding.
Fleas lay around 40 eggs a day, or approximately 2,000 during their lifetime. A flea can do more than just make you itchy – it can also transmit diseases. They can carry typhus, bartonellosis, and plague. In recent months, fleas in Colorado have been a cause of public health concerns. In summer of 2019, flea-infected prairie dogs closed down parts of a Denver suburb. One teen was even found dead from flea bites.
Fleas are small parasites that can hitchhike inside the home on the clothing of a cat or person. They can detect human movement and can jump up to 100 times their length. They also prefer to live in areas with carpet and furniture. Luckily, a few common methods of flea control can help control a flea infestation.
Fleas are the most common parasites found on fur-bearing animals. They are reddish brown and about an eighth of an inch long. They can live in carpet, cracks, or on pets. They are sometimes mistaken for ticks and bedbugs. In North America, the most common species is the cat flea. Other species include human and rat fleas.