Did you know that bites by sand fleas are extremely dangerous?
These tiny pests pose a significant health risk to humans. People often mistake sand fleas for harmless gnats and flies.
Sand fleas are tiny, can cause very serious bites, and have more venom in their bites than mosquitoes.
Sand fleas have thin bodies and legs, typically orange color, plus a pair of curved, whitish antennae.
What Are Sand Fleas?
Contents
Sand fleas are not very active, and they prefer to grow either underground or in moist areas.
Sand fleas happen to be harmless and are generally unable to bite humans.
These insects, like regular fleas, may bite when provoked. However, sand fleas do not bite when provoked. In addition, sand fleas are not aggressive at all. They usually run away when disturbed.
This kind of flea is sometimes mistaken for a tick, which is known as a spider mite.
Sand fleas do not possess any hair, making it seem like they are insects. They are about the size of small grains of sand and are capable of floating on water.
Sand fleas are actually found everywhere, from the seashore to lakes.
Mosquitoes and flies, among other factors, often aggravate already existing skin problems.
However, sand fleas are worse than these types of insects, because sand fleas not only bite, but they also cause fatal skin irritations by causing redness or swelling of the affected area.
How to Avoid Sand Flea Bites
Sand flea bites may be avoided by skipping long, hot drives.
Avoid driving when the sun is coming up or it is going down as the window glass of the vehicles is automatically heated. Avoid driving during the coolest part of the night for the same reason.
A cooler environment, even with windows closed, usually results in fewer incidences of bites and rashes.
Active In the Summer
Sand fleas, also called shore fleas, are common on beaches all over the world. They can feed off of fish, crabs, and other small critters.
Sand fleas can also travel inland by wading or swimming. Pay particular attention to your ankles and calves as many sand fleas will bite there.
Afterwards, treat the bite with a hydrocortisone cream, which will draw the venom out of the skin.
So, the worst time when you’re likely to encounter sand fleas is around the later afternoon.
Also remember to avoid areas with a strong tannic or acidic soil as those environments won’t allow you to set an enough perimeter to be effective.
Use Insect Repellent
Sand fleas are extremely annoying, and if you let them bite you, they will penetrate your skin and bite even harder. One way to avoid sand fleas is to apply a repellent to your skin. The poison from this repellent will prevent them from getting close enough to bite.
First, you’ll need a repellent that ticks all the boxes: It’s easy-to-apply, stays on, and is effective for the type of travel you’re planning.
Not so fast! Not all repellents are created equal.
Some are concentrated, which make them better for shorter trips into dense foliage; others are diffused, making them more effective for long hikes through open terrain.
The last thing you want is to run out of repellent while you are hiking deep into the wilderness!
For these reasons, it’s wise to bring several repellent options: dEET-based, UV-based, homemade, or cinnamon-based.
That will help keep sand fleas and mosquitoes at bay.
Second, you’ll have to reapply the flea repellant multiple times during the day.
Some people might believe this is overkill. However, going barefoot can expose you to even more bites on your feet than on your legs.
We tend to forget this, but the bug repellent is most important for our legs and feet.
Stay Moving
Sand fleas are sneaky little pests that like to hide in the cracks and crevices of the beach and trail.
Abraded skin is common for people who sit or lay on the beach. However, there aren’t too many ways on how you can get rid of sand fleas.
But, thanks to our tips, you can stay moving and keep moving until they disappear.
Just follow these simple tips and you’ll be free of sand fleas in no time.
Cover Your Lower Legs
Sand fleas are real and can easily bite anyone who doesn’t protect their legs. After they feed, they burrow under the dirt or sand. After that, they can burrow under the dirt or sand.
Sand fleas love to burrow into pockets in fabric, such as your sleeping bag or tent, so make sure they are firmly closed before you go to bed. You can also keep them out by hanging up your clothes, this way they will stay off the ground.
That’s why you should protect your skin from harmful UV rays by wearing sunscreen any time you’re outdoors.
Some people think that wearing socks on their calves will protect them from the sand fleas, but that’s not a good idea. If the sand fleas get between the socks and your skin, you’re unprotected from the bites.
Even though they’re hard to spot, sand fleas are dangerous, and when covered by your leggings, they can’t bite you.
You might even consider investing in a water repellent high-tech fabric that’s designed to keep you cool while also repelling the sun’s rays.
Brush and bathe regularly. Nothing keeps the insects away like warm, clean skin.
They hate it! Even if you spend most of that time relaxing on the beach chair, don’t forget to spray your skin with repellent.
It makes the flea think you’re too hot for comfort, so it walks away.
Once you’ve protected your feet and calves, you can focus on your upper body. Get in the habit of applying a generous amount of insect repellent or DEET to your shoulders, neck, and face.
Chair or Blanket
Many people enjoy relaxing on the sand, but the best way to minimize your family’s risk of getting bitten by sand fleas is by not exposing your feet or your legs to the sand.
Instead, sit in a comfortable position, such as sitting with your legs raised, to minimize the amount of time that your feet are in direct contact with the wet pavement, where sand fleas tend to live.
Alternatively, you may place a tarp under your feet or spread canvas drop fabric underneath your chair.
Also Read: How to Remove Sand Fleas From Skin
Conclusion
If you’ve spent any time on the sand, you know it is full of everything that doesn’t fit into an aquarium: an awful lot of dust, broken shells, and, of course, sand fleas. Nothing improves an itch more than a scratch.
These tiny, irritating insects love sand, so staying away from such areas minimizes the number of bites you may suffer.
While they may be smaller than ordinary fleas, sand fleas are just as dangerous as they are adept at burrowing in your skin and feeding on your blood.
A bite from sand fleas can lead to inflammation and allergic reactions, so it’s best to keep your distance when these kids (or adults) are around.
And in the summer months they may become a hot topic at beach picnics, cookouts, and pool parties.
Their bites itch like mad and so, the sooner you get them treated, the less pain you’ll feel. It is recommended that the carrier of hydrocortisone cream apply to the bite and surrounding area right up until the itch subsides.
