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How Do I Detect Fleas?

Fleas

Fleas aren’t winning any beauty contests, that’s for sure. They suck our pets’ blood. They suck our blood. In addition to their gross habits, they’re pretty disgusting-looking creatures. From Southern California’s most trusted exterminators, find out how to spot this unpleasant pest and tell it apart from the equally repulsive bed bug.

What Do Fleas Look Like?

Adult fleas are approximately 2.5 cm long and are a dark reddish-brown color. They’re wingless, but their long legs allow them to jump large distances from host to host. Fleas bodies are thin and flat, which makes it easy for them to crawl through your pet’s fur. Adults also have mouthparts, which act like beaks to dig in and extract blood from their hosts. If we never have to use the word “mouthparts” again to describe this bloodsucking parasite, then we can live happily ever after.

Fleas Versus Bed Bugs

Fleas and bed bugs have a lot of similarities, and they’re often confused for one another: They both suck blood and have a reddish brown coloring. However, fleas are generally smaller than bedbugs, as well as skinnier and longer. Bed bugs are nocturnal, so if you see them, they’ll likely be in the piping of your mattress and in or around your box spring. Fleas are also nocturnal, but can be found clinging to your pet at all hours of the day.

The difference between the two bugs is also apparent in their bites. Flea bites resemble a cluster of mosquito bites, and will start to itch within an hour. On the other hand, bed bug bites can take a couple days to show, and they will look like raised, flat welts. Fleas can carry many types of bacteria and viral diseases. They can also transmit tapeworms. Bed bugs, it now appears, are able to transmit Chagas disease.

After Detection: Professional Assistance

So, you’ve spotted blood-sucking parasites in your home, and you’re adamant that they’re fleas, not bed bugs. If they’re causing you or your pet fits, it’s time to take care of them – otherwise, those bumps will just keep showing up. Contact Lloyd Pest Control for professional help to ensure their elimination. We offer flea extermination across Southern California.