Bed fleas: photos of bites, how to destroy them

Bed fleas - a pretty unpleasant surprise, especially for people living in apartments and not having pets. What kind of creatures are they, and how dangerous are they for people? In fact, such a biological species as bed fleas, in nature do not exist, this name biting insects received due to the fact that sometimes for their continued existence, choose sofas and beds. Despite the fact that in nature there are many varieties of fleas, they look almost the same, and their way of life is not much different.

Structure of insects

On a kind bed fleas - usual insects of the small size. The structure of the bloodsuckers is quite complicated, but it is very problematic to determine the parts of the body with the naked eye. The bed flea is a dark brown, almost black insect with a round and elongated trunk, slightly flattened on the sides. To crush the parasite with fingers is impossible because of the chitinous shell in the form of a shell that performs a protective function.

However strange it may be, bed fleas feel that they are invulnerable, which is why they lack the instincts of self-preservation. The length of an adult does not exceed three millimeters, the wings of these bloodsucking insects are absent, but on the trunk there are three fairly powerful pairs of paws.

Hind legs are the longest and best developed, because thanks to them the insects are jumping, and this is known to be their only way of moving. If you look at the flea through a microscope, you can see that it has small antennae, peculiar antennas to search for another victim, who hide in special pits when the insect is resting.

The structure of the mouthpiece is extremely difficult to examine, even through a microscope, it is known only that it resembles a hose or a small trunk with which the flea bites and sucks the blood of its victims. Eggs of blood-sucking insects look like rice grains approximately 0.5 mm in diameter, and larvae - on translucent worms. As for pupae of bloodsuckers, they can be mistaken for ordinary mote.

What fleas are parasitic in humans?

Any insect that feeds on the blood of warm-blooded animals can bite a person. However, most often people are bitten by fleas that parasitize on pets: cats and dogs. In nature, however, one type of blood-sucking insect, for which a person acts as a potential "master," is singled out. These bloodsuckers also attack four-legged friends, but prefer to feed on human blood. The thing is that in these parasites the oral apparatus perfectly pierces our skin.

So, what kind of bloodsuckers are potentially dangerous for humans?

• First, it's canine fleas. It is this species is considered the champion for attacking people. This is due to the fact that our faithful four-legged friends most often bring fleas into their homes on their wool.
• Secondly, a person can be bitten by feline bloodsuckers. Cats spend most of the time on the street, where they find these parasites. Fleas brought by a cat into the house, in the absence of a pet, are forced to look for a new source of nutrition, and they become a man.
• Thirdly, even rat bloodsuckers piss people off. This is one of the most dangerous types of fleas for humans. Suffer from the bites of these parasites are mostly residents of the province.
• Fourth, one of the most common bloodsucking insects are rabbit fleas, although they bite a person in very rare cases.

How do the bloodsuckers get into bed?

Carpets, animal bedding, plinths and dark corners are the main habitats and laying eggs of bloodsucking insects. Why are fleas in bed linens? Parasites can be brought into the house by the owners themselves on clothes, in addition, these bloodsuckers are able to move independently for quite considerable distances, they move only by leaps.

Bloodsucking insects can be in the house for the following reasons:

• If the apartment is located on the first floor, then the fleas can be brought in by rodents living in the cellars.
• In the next house you have pets.
• Parasites were brought by the owners themselves, especially when it comes to those who often have to visit basements or non-residential premises.

Bed fleas, photos of which are presented in this material, jump on the bed solely in order to refresh themselves. It is quite difficult to detect small insects, but if you make a bed with light linens, you will certainly notice the presence of bloodsuckers.

Signs of the appearance of fleas

Despite the fact that bloodsucking insects are small in size, sooner or later you will notice them on light bedding. Trying to catch them is meaningless, because they are remarkably responsive to movements, possessing to everything else and amazing jumping. When the arm approaches, the bed fleas begin to jump and instantly disappear from the perceived space.

If you prefer dark underwear, then the presence of insects in the house will indicate such signs as:

• Bites on legs and hands.
• Restless behavior of pets. When fleas appear, four-footed friends begin to itch and often try to bite the invisible bloodsucker in the wool.
• Black dots on bed linens. These are the products of the vital activity of parasites. Outwardly, they look like flies.
• Larvae found in the corners of the room or in debris.

How to recognize flea bites?

Not in all cases it is possible to determine which person was attacked by an insect. To take appropriate measures, it is important to learn to distinguish the symptoms of the bites of bloodsuckers. Fleas basically bite a man on the sites with the thinnest skin: popliteal and axillary hollows, waist and legs. However, there are exceptions.

Bites of bed fleas are accompanied by severe itching, small swelling and redness. Because of too small a wound, it is not possible to determine the place of skin biting. If an insect has attacked a person alone, a characteristic chain of bites will appear, the distance between which is not more than 2 cm, if there were a lot of them - the wounds can be localized throughout the body.

What are the risks of flea bites?

Pain and severe itching are nothing compared to dangerous infectious diseases that bloodsuckers can suffer. It turns out that the fleas in the Middle Ages were carriers of the plague, which claimed many human lives.

Thanks to the efforts of the medical profession, today the plague has been defeated, but from a bite of a flea people can catch typhus, pseudotuberculosis, rabbit fever (tularemia), anthrax, brucellosis or rubella naturalists.

In addition, flea bite can cause a strong allergic reaction. In such cases, itching does not localize only on the affected area of the body, but spreads throughout the body.

What should I do if I have a bite of a flea?

If you find flea bites on your body, do not comb the affected areas of the body, and immediately wash them with running water and antiseptic soap. It is recommended to treat the bite site with soothing calamine lotion, if it is not available, use alternative methods of treatment.

Treat the affected area of the body with water and apple cider vinegar. Mix the necessary ingredients in a ratio of 1: 2 and put in the refrigerator. In a cooled liquid, moisten a thin cloth and attach to the bitten place.

It is good to remove the itch paste-like mass, made from bicarbonate sodium and water. The resulting gruel is applied to the bite for 15 minutes. You can also prepare liquid from 250 ml of water and lemon peel. The present mixture is treated with itchy areas.

How to get rid at home?

The fight against parasites should begin with the treatment of pets that suffer from their bites most. Rid of a dog or cat from fleas can be with the help of special antibacterial shampoos, soaps or sprays. To prevent repeated infection of pets periodically need to drip drops on the withers and put anti-collar collars.

After carrying out the treatment of animals you need to start cleaning the apartment. Fleas can not tolerate the smell of tansy and wormwood, so you can spread out bunches of grass in the corners of the room. The room in which the blood-sucking insects started, requires wet cleaning, and it should be done using ammonia, vinegar and soap solution.

If folk methods do not help and the question of how to get rid of bed fleas remains unresolved, the treatment of the room will require special sprays, aerosols or solutions. Preparations for fighting various insects are now sold in many stores. The main thing is to read the instructions before use and follow the recommendations carefully, observing the precautionary measures. The remedy for bed fleas "Effective Ultra" proved to be very good, although other drugs can cope with this task: "Chlorpirimax", "Bolfo", "Tetriks" and "Sinuzan".

In the future, in order to protect your home from the penetration of fleas, be sure to purchase for all pets special collars, and for couches and couches for animals, put dry wormwood or tansy. Such a situation will not allow parasites to settle in your apartment.