Often, not much is mentioned about the dangers of fleas, and whilst reading this may have you itching all over, you’ll be glad you did.
Fleas; also known as bloodsucking, external parasites. Not the nicest thing to have crawling over you, your children or your pets.
We have put together a few things you may want to know about this almost invisible pest.
- Fleas are generally tiny, around 2-3mm in length
- Fleas can live for anything between two weeks, up to a year. However, the average flea lives up to a few months
- Fleas feed on warm blood (animals/humans)
- Fleas multiply very quickly
- A female flea is usually bigger than a male flea
- Fleas are deaf and blind
- The majority of fleas initially exist in your bed, carpet or sofa
- Female fleas can reproduce around two days after their initial blood meal
- Just one flea can become a thousand fleas, in about three weeks
- Fleas don’t have wings; they move around by jumping. They do have six legs though
- Fleas have existed for around one hundred million years
- Fleas can jump thousands of times simultaneously, without stopping
- The average female flea can lay approximately 1,500-2,000 eggs in its lifetime, but is infertile before its first feed
- A flea is capable of pulling over a hundred-thousand times its own weight
- Female fleas can feed on over ten times their own body weight in a day
- Fleas cannot survive in freezing temperatures
- There are soft fleas and hard fleas. Hard fleas generate a type of saliva that is not recognised by the immune system, so it becomes very difficult to detect
- A hard flea will feed for longer, whilst a soft flea will feed little and often
- Fleas can lead to many health issues for your pets; from skin allergies and infections to hair loss and transmitting tapeworms, which could even lead to death
- Fleas are extremely high jumpers; and their bodies reverse in direction every time they jump
So, now you know your foe a little better, if you feel you may have a flea infestation or would like some advice, give Empire Pest Control London a call today and let us help you zap those little critters away.
