How long do fleas live in an apartment, how many days do they die after treatment, why do they not die even when the animals are no longer in the house - the answers to these questions lie in the biology of the parasites.
How long a flea can live without feeding on blood outside an animal depends on environmental conditions and the stage of the insect's life cycle. First, let's establish how many years, months or days earth fleas can live in different circumstances - favorable and extreme.
Structural features
The body of fleas is laterally compressed, narrow, smooth , equipped with bristles and spines that help them move and stay in the thick fur and between the feathers of their hosts, in the folds of clothing, as well as in the substrate of their nests and burrows. The head and chest often have serrated ridges ( ctenidia ).
The size of fleas of different species varies
from 1 to 5 mm , but in females of some species it can reach 10 mm due to hypertrophic growth of the abdomen after the start of feeding.
The antennae are always located behind the simple eyes and, at rest, are placed in special recesses - antennal fossae.
The antennae may be used by males to hold onto a female during copulation . The oral apparatus of fleas is of the piercing-sucking type .
It is characterized by the transformation of epipharynges (unpaired stylet) and lacinia (paired stylets) into stylets, articulated with the maxillary lobes.
The lower lip with a pair of labial palps is transformed into case flaps for the components of the proboscis. The mandibles in adult fleas are completely lost . The chest is equipped with strong limbs, providing the insect with rapid movement in the host's integument and the ability to stay on rough surfaces at any angle.
They often move by jumping, using the second and especially the third pair of legs to push. In the posterior part of the abdomen, behind tergite VIII, there is a unique sensory organ found only in fleas - the abdominal sensillium, or pygidium , equipped with trichobothria (tactile hairs) and capable of detecting air vibrations .
Based on the nature of changes in ploidy, the following types of life cycles :
- Haplophasic : the organism has a single set of chromosomes (n, haploid) throughout the cycle; These life cycles are characteristic of many bacteria and protists that do not have a sexual process.
- Haplophasic with zygotic reduction : after the formation of the zygote (2n), meiosis occurs and the remaining stages of the life cycle are haploid (this life cycle is characteristic of many green and other algae, as well as most other groups of protists and fungi).
- Diplophase with gametic reduction : all stages of the life cycle are diploid (2n), only gametes are haploid (n) - a life cycle characteristic of multicellular animals.
- Haplo-diplophase : at both diploid and haploid stages, mitotic divisions occur, leading to reproduction or growth, and the life cycle contains diploid and haploid generations - a life cycle with intermediate (sporic) reduction, characteristic of all higher plants, as well as foraminifera and some other protists.
By the number of generations (ontogenies) in the life cycle:
- Simple : the cycle includes one generation.
- Complex : cycle includes two or more generations; such a life cycle is characteristic, for example, of many cnidarians (alternating generations of polyps and jellyfish), for most trematodes (alternating generations of marites, sporocysts and redeyes).
Appearance
You should immediately understand that fleas are insects that are parasites on the skin and hair of animals living near you. They are used to sucking the blood of rabbits, cats, dogs, chickens, parrots, hamsters and rats.
However, the worst thing is that these small creatures are capable of causing harm directly to humans . Using a special piercing-sucking apparatus, the flea pierces an inconspicuous hole on the surface of the skin of its owner and is saturated with his blood.
The signs by which you can recognize an insect are a smooth body, which has a narrow texture and is somewhat flattened on the sides . It is also worth paying attention to the bristles and small spines that are located throughout the body and serve to ensure that the flea is able to move and stay on the fur of its victim.
The insect's head and chest are covered with so-called serrated combs or ctendia . As for the size of an adult, it ranges from 1 to 5 millimeters. And females that have had enough time sometimes reach 10 millimeters in length.
The flea's head is equipped with special antennas, which, when not needed, hide in antennae pits, and when the insects go hunting, they reappear in order to detect the most vulnerable spot.
How many legs does a flea have? The flea makes its jumps with the help of three pairs of fairly strong paws , which are located on the belly. The sensory organ, which is located on the back of the body, is designed to instantly capture air vibrations in the environment.
Today there are about 1000 species of these insects. Another interesting fact is that representatives of this family often lack vision or have the simplest manifestations of it .
Read more about such types as: human, earthen, bed, herbal.
Studying the life activity of fleas and the characteristics of their body is possible only with the help of a microscope. The largest collection of specimens is in the British Museum. It was collected in Tring by scientists N. Rothschild and K. Jordan.
Flea lifespan
How long does the most common human flea, Pulex irritans, live? In a favorable environment, this insect lives for about 3 months.
During this period, 1 female of this bloodsucker lays 400–600 small eggs, and each such small pest makes about 100 bites. Only after this minimal “plan” is completed does this parasite die naturally.
An important condition for comfortable living of fleas is compliance with specific air humidity and temperature. Thus, rat-like insects Xenopsylla cheopis live quietly inside any room at 14 degrees Celsius and 55% humidity or more.
Bloodsuckers that live in a private household or apartment (Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides felis or Ctenocephalides canis) also feel good there. However, they die quickly without immediate access to blood.
If these insects live in places with elevated temperatures, then all their phases of reproduction and development pass much faster. Thus, adults become very large.
Typically, flea larvae of pulex irritans degenerate into an adult in 30 days, while at elevated temperatures the fleas multiply and then grow much faster - in 7 days. The development of flea eggs ends after 14 days, and then for another 14 days this small pest is in the pupal phase.
These bloodsuckers, who live not in a warm home, but in nature, die quickly. After all, they are destroyed by the carriers themselves (dogs, cats, etc.). Then the animals bite the bloodsuckers out of their fur.
Also, many such bloodsuckers die from various infections. There are fleas that change several hosts during their life when the animal dies.
Fleas Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis immediately leave a dead dog or cat because they cannot feed on the blood of a dead animal.
How long do these insects live?
How long do various species of bloodsuckers live (for example, Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis, Xenopsylla cheopis, etc.)?
The lifespan of all types of fleas is directly related to these 3 factors:
- specific temperature regime;
- living conditions - apartment or street;
- air humidity.
On average, these small pests live 18–90 days. Throughout its life, 1 bloodsucker makes about 10 bites and, thus, it injures its owner.
Over the course of her entire life, a female flea lays about 500 eggs.
However, these bloodsuckers often die from various infections that they themselves spread, as well as from the teeth of a domestic cat or dog, from human hands or any disinfectant.
Can parasites live without food?
How long do fleas live without food? Approximately 2–3 months. the parasites Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis or Xenopsylla cheopis can live without consuming blood.
Especially those individuals that often bite humans. At the same time, they remain mobile.
However, if these insects do not feed for a long time, they do not reproduce in any way. After all, only after a hearty lunch do they mate with each other, and then the female flea lays many small eggs.
Do these bloodsuckers live in a private household or apartment if there are no animals or people there? Yes, but not indefinitely. Sooner or later they still die.
What determines the lifespan of a flea?
At the moment, it is the sharp change in air temperature that greatly affects the lifespan of fleas.
In addition to it, the lifespan of such bloodsuckers Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis or Xenopsylla cheopis is directly related to the following factors:
- air humidity. Low (but not too low) humidity is comfortable for bloodsuckers;
- source of food. Small pests that do not receive fresh animal or human blood for a long time live longer;
- the invariability of specific temperature and humidity conditions.
Bloodsuckers that live in areas with constant sharp changes in humidity and fluctuations in street temperature often quickly become numb. This significantly increases the life span of a flea.
An important factor for fleas is the number of offspring produced from 1 female, and not the rate of formation of flea larvae. As a rule, such a process is continuous.
Thus, while fighting various bloodsuckers, the lodger not only removes these parasites from the pet’s fur, but also destroys flea larvae hidden in secluded places.
Photo
What a flea looks like, close-up photo:
Where do fleas live?
A very large number of flea species are determined by suitable climatic conditions. It is a common belief that the number of fleas varies depending on the time of year.
When a cold period sets in, the number rarely decreases, and, conversely , with the arrival of warmth, insects actively reproduce. The hot months of summer seem to be especially active in this regard.
The greatest danger comes from fleas that live in the apartment and can cause harm to them. Fleas often settle near rodent burrows . As for residential premises, they are most often found in small cracks on the floor , under bedspreads and in dusty places where people cannot penetrate.
Find out where fleas come from in the house?
Remarkable is the fact that a female flea is capable of laying about 400 eggs in her entire life.
Varieties
To date, scientists have described more than 2,000 species of fleas, which are grouped into 15 families. Fleas are found in animals, birds, and can live in the upper layers of the earth and on plants. A person can most often come into contact with the following species:
- felines are one of the most common species; they parasitize mainly on cats, but can also live on dogs, rodents, and other animals, and also bite people;
- canine fleas are close relatives of cat fleas, they are also not limited to the dog as a victim, they can settle on cats and other pets;
- human - can parasitize on humans, as well as on animals that often come into contact with them (cats, dogs, horses);
- rats - mainly parasitize rodents (rats, mice), small brown insects are very dangerous, as they carry pathogens of many dangerous infectious diseases;
- domestic - this is not a scientific classification, this is the name given to fleas that live in a person’s home; these include, for example, bed or linen fleas ;
- earthen - live on the ground or in the top layer of soil;
- arboreal - prefer to settle at the foot of trees;
- avian – most often parasitize birds, including domestic chickens;
- herbaceous (field) - live in the grass.
These are just a few species from the huge variety of fleas existing on the planet.
Fighting methods
The fight against this misfortune should begin with a number of special measures that can stop the reproduction process and neutralize already born individuals. If there are animals in the house, then it is necessary to treat their fur with special products .
Shampoos and a variety of medications are sold in pet pharmacies especially for these purposes . A very good assistant in this matter is pyrethrum , which veterinarians strongly recommend treating the hair of cats and dogs.
It can also be used to treat all possible places where pests accumulate directly in the home. Folk remedies include sweeping floors with a wormwood broom . A flea collar is also actively used.
Lifestyle
Adults differ from many other insects in having a fairly active lifestyle , which is marked by periodic settlements on the body of the prey in order to receive nutrition for further life activity.
What do fleas eat? These parasites drink blood. It is worth noting that when they are full, they most often leave the object and look for a new owner, which makes these insects potential carriers of various diseases .
for fleas to get enough food once a day , but if this process is interrupted for some reason, then they are forced to look for another source of nutrition.
How long can fleas live without food? If it is not possible to find a source of food, then a flea can survive without food for a week, or even a month . As for the host, these parasites are quite unpretentious .
Individuals that live on cats can consume the blood of a dog or human without much embarrassment. However, it is fair to note that fleas that live on chiropterans will never jump onto mammals .
Read more about the dangers of fleas for pets and people here.
Video
Sources:
- Wade, SE & Georgi, JR Survival and reproduction of artificially fed cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis Bouché (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) // J. Med. Entomol. 25, 186–190 (1988)
- Kern, W.H., Koehler, P.G. & Patterson, R.S. Diel Patterns of Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Egg and Fecal Deposition // Journal of Medical Entomology 29, 203–206 (1992)
- Rust, M. K. Interhost movement of adult cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) // J. Med. Entomol. 31, 486–489 (1994)
- Hinkle, NC, Koehler, PG & Patterson, RS Host Grooming Efficiency for Regulation of Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Populations // Journal of Medical Entomology 35, 266–269 (1998)
- Dryden, M.W. Host association, on-host longevity and egg production of Ctenocephalides felis felis // Veterinary Parasitology 34, 117–122 (1989)
- Dryden, M. W. Biology of Fleas of Dogs and Cats // The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 15, 569–578 (1993)
Dmitry Lipchiu
Please rate the material
comments powered by HyperComments
Flea Behavior and Identification
Fleas are quite active and sense the approach of danger very well thanks to sensory organs that detect the slightest shudders in the air. This is why it is almost impossible to neutralize a flea with bare hands .
There is a high probability that it will move to another owner and continue to be saturated with his blood. We should also not forget that most fleas are not on the animal itself, but in its environment, which complicates the process of pest control.
When purchasing a drug to exterminate parasites from a pet pharmacy, do not forget to inquire about their toxicity level for the animal and check the period of its action.
As you know, it is easier to prevent than to cure. Special animal collars that are impregnated with insecticides will help you with this.
Signs of dangerous pests and the consequences of their bites
The presence of fleas in the house can be recognized by characteristic bites , which are located not only on the head, but also on other parts of the body. Fleas bite into the skin with force, so it is almost impossible not to notice the attack of the parasite.
At the site of the bite, a red spot or blister up to 5 mm in diameter appears with a red dot in the center. In some people, insect saliva can trigger hives or allergic rashes. Bites heal in 3–5 days.
Flea bites are very itchy. By touching wounds with dirty hands, a person can infect them. When pathogenic microorganisms come into contact with the damaged epidermis, suppuration and intoxication occur.
How long does a flea live?
The optimal temperature for flea development is 18–27 degrees, and the most suitable humidity is 70–100%. Under such conditions, the flea grows in 20–49 days .
If the humidity drops below 60%, then the larvae stop the development process, and they completely die in the water .
It is interesting that if environmental conditions cannot be called favorable, then the period when the flea remains sealed in a cocoon may be significantly longer.
The main part of fleas are temporary parasites that use domestic animals and humans only to get enough food in order to continue their life activities.
Reproduction
Complete metamorphosis is how fleas develop. This means that the egg that hatches as an adult first produces a larva. This larva then turns into a pupa. The larvae do not pose a great danger and are not capable of causing harm .
This is only a transitional stage, the final goal of which is an adult insect, which in the scientific world is called an imago. It is these latter that support their vital functions by feeding on the blood of animals and people.
An adult flea produces eggs that have a dry surface and usually fall into the insect's nest or onto the floor. The larvae, which emerge from the eggs after some time, are whitish in color and have no legs or organs of vision .
They can be observed in cracks in coverings or in carpets. If their direct carrier lives in the basement, then attention should be paid, first of all, to heaps of garbage and various household rubbish.
Flea larvae that threaten cats, dogs and humans sometimes settle on green lawns . There they have the opportunity to receive nutrition from plant juice.
Also, they are thus protected from the harmful effects of sunlight. Very often, owners of farms where pigs are raised become victims of fleas.
The egg development period ranges from several days to several weeks depending on environmental conditions. The life cycle of the larva is approximately two to four weeks.
When this period ends, the larva begins to construct a cobweb cocoon, which becomes its refuge until the time comes for rebirth into an adult flea, capable of obtaining its own food on its own.
Read more about flea reproduction.
The insect can remain in a clogged state for up to several months . It often happens that even the imago does not want to crawl out of the protective cocoon and does this only when it senses a potential victim.
Apartment processing
To quickly get rid of fleas in an apartment, the treatment of the apartment must be thorough:
- you need to wash all the things you have. This applies to personal clothing, slippers, curtains, curtains, towels, blankets, and so on;
- you need to knock out pillows, mattresses and blankets on the street. It is advisable to “warm up” them in direct sunlight.
- You should use a powerful vacuum cleaner for upholstered furniture, paths and carpets. Pay attention to cracks and crevices in the floor, behind baseboards and in other hidden places;
- all surfaces of baseboards and furniture must be wiped with a disinfectant;
- you need to buy a specialized product - an insecticide.
However, we recommend that you consult with professionals.
There are many counterfeits or drugs on the market today that are simply not registered in our country. This means that there is a very high probability that they will be powerless in the fight against fleas or they will contain toxic substances that can harm the health of people and their pets. Some substances have a long-lasting effect and can accumulate in the body, leading to disastrous results, such as infertility.
After treatment with an insecticidal preparation, you should leave the apartment for several hours . After this, thoroughly ventilate all rooms by opening the windows. At the same time, you shouldn’t clean the apartment for a couple of days. During this time, it is advisable to move to another place.
If the remedy is effective, the adults will die. However, the struggle does not end there. It should be understood that in a week or two the problem will reappear. A new generation will appear and grow up and will also lay eggs. Therefore, it will be necessary to carry out several repeated treatments to avoid a new invasion. You need to act quickly and efficiently, this is the only way to prevent fleas from appearing again.
Many people, trying to get rid of fleas on their own, rarely achieve the desired result. The reasons for this are different: incorrect choice of drug, lack of repeated treatments, incomplete treatment, and so on. Therefore, the best option is to contact companies to carry out appropriate processing .
