Why Can’t Fleas Be Squished?
WouterIf you have ever been bitten by a flea, you’ve probably wondered, “Why can’t I squash it?” Fleas are so small that you can barely catch them with your hands. That’s because they’re adapted to resist the weight of their host. This is because they’re so flat and slippery, and must survive by pushing against a surface. You can try to squeeze the flea to death by spinning it around in your hand, but it’s not very likely to do much.
Fleas feed on the blood of animals, and when you squish them, the blood comes out as a blue-gray liquid. Fleas don’t actually have blood on their bodies – that’s the blood of the host. When you try to squish a flea, you won’t be able to squeeze it because of its specialized leg structure.
Fleas can be killed with warm water, dish soap, or soapy water. You can also try dipping them into petroleum jelly. But make sure you wash your hands well afterward because fleas can carry disease. If you want to get rid of fleas, always make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching an infested animal.
Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that can grow up to one eighth of an inch in length. They’re dark red or brown in color and have tube-like mouth parts to feed on blood. They have long hind legs and are very agile. This allows them to jump long distances. In addition to jumping, fleas can easily spread from host to host.
