Surely you have already asked yourself, on several occasions, about How Big a Flea is. But the size of each flea will depend on its age and other aspects. There are more than 2,500 species of fleas, and they are found throughout the world, but the most common is the one that can be detected in dogs and cats.
This flea is called “Ctenocephalides felis” and is also known as the cat flea. Now, you know that if your dog or cat has fleas, this will be the species, and when you notice their presence, you should take quick measures to get rid of them. Otherwise, a flea infestation can occur.
To find out if there are fleas near you:
- Check if your dog or cat scratches frequently: If you see your pet scratching or biting her fur, chances are she has fleas. When fleas bite your pet, they can cause pain and itching, as its salivary glands release a substance that irritates dogs and cats.
- You can notice their presence: Fleas can be difficult to see, although you can notice the most adult ones because they are the largest.
- Detect flea dirt: Fleas can leave a presence of pepper-like debris on your pet’s fur. You may also notice it on your bedding, furniture, and rugs.
How Big is an Adult Flea?
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Fleas belong to the group of blood-sucking insects, and they are dangerous as they can transmit certain diseases. A flea infestation is a problem that must be resolved quickly. Fleas are tiny and can often go unnoticed.
This sucking insect does not have wings, but its size will depend on its life stage if a tough cuticle with many bristles. The size of a Flea can be known since adult fleas have a size that can vary between 0.039 to 0.13 inches. The main food of fleas is the blood of animals and humans.
How Big Is A Flea Egg?
When fleas are adults, they can be easier to detect than smaller ones. But the eggs are so small that they can often go unnoticed. Flea eggs are easier to see through a microscope, as they are only 0.5 millimetres long and half wide.
Flea eggs are made up of a shell called “chorion.” The chorion has a whitish color similar to that of a grain of salt, but its shape is a little more oval. Flea eggs are difficult to see and can be mistaken for sand, even with dry skin.
If you have a pet, you are likely to mistake flea eggs for some of these items. But if you find dirt on your pet’s fur or in the spaces of your home, you may immediately think that fleas are present.
If a flea infestation is near you and you notice eggs’ presence, to make sure they are, you can place them on a dark paper and take a magnifying glass to identify them. One of the most visible characteristics of flea eggs is their oval shape.
How Big Is A Flea Larvae?
Knowing How Big is a Flea allows you to guess that adults may be easier to see. Flea larvae hatch from eggs and are very worm-like and whitish. Flea larvae have an average size of 2 to 5 millimetres long.
Flea larvae are very hard to see as they quickly hide anywhere like carpets, in the grass, or any crevice.
How Big Is A Flea Pupae?
When fleas are in their pupal stage, they are divided between the larval head and the three posterior body segments. Little by little, the body of the pupa first widens and then shortens.
During their onset, the larvae have a small space inside the cocoon, but this space will be much larger due to body changes as they are pupae. Flea pupae are very similar in size to adult fleas, as they can be 1.5 to 3.2 millimetres long.
Different Between Fleas And Other Insects
Fleas are sucking insects very similar to bed bugs in that their bites are very itchy. Fleas are very annoying insects, especially for people who have pets. That is why it is so important that they are given preventive treatments for fleas when having dogs or cats.
Just as fleas can enter your home, bed bugs can; however, there are some differences. Fleas can transmit diseases like typhus, while bed bugs are not disease transmitters.
When people are bitten by fleas or bed bugs, some may have some allergy symptoms. And depending on the intensity of the bite, some infections can develop. Although fleas and bed bugs are not a real danger, they can inconvenience, so getting rid of both insects is the best thing to do.
You must know how to differentiate between fleas and bed bugs so that you can take the most appropriate measures to get rid of them:
- Fleas prefer to live in animals that have a lot of furs, such as dogs and cats
- Bed bugs prefer to feed on the blood of humans
- Flea bites cause very itchy bumps
- Bed bug bites cause red spots that can itch
Life Cycle And Growth
Its growth stage is important to realize when they are present. Fleas are very robust parasites, and once they get someone to feed on, they can reproduce quickly. So your eggs can be spread throughout your home without you realizing it.
To stop fleas, it is essential to break their life cycle. When fleas are near you, only 5% of the adult fleas are part of the infestation. The other 95 may be visible to you, which is why it is so difficult to tell when there are large numbers of this sucking insect.
As fleas develop, they take different forms, and knowing this stage of growth will keep you on guard against an infestation. When the adult flea finds a host, it begins to reproduce, leaving between 20 to 50 eggs per day. If the guest is your pet, you will leave the eggs scattered while you walk around your home.
Once the eggs hatch, they become larvae, then pupae until they reach their adult stage. In most cases, you will be able to notice fleas on your pets.
