What Do Fleas Look Like - Pest

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What Do Fleas Look Like

Find out what fleas really look like and confirm the infestation to get rid of them faster.

Fleas might be very common but do you know what fleas look?

To properly deal with any pest infestation, it’s crucial to determine what is the insect that’s bugging you. While roaches are easily detected and confirmed, fleas and other tiny pests often leave just a few clues and endless itching bites.

If you want to find out what fleas and flea bites look like, as well as the best ways to get rid of fleas from your home keep on reading.

Picture of a flea.

What Do Fleas Look Like?

Fleas are small and flat insects without any wings, but they move around quite easily using their strong hind legs. While fleas might be common and very annoying, they are very hard to spot considering their size of 1⁄16 to 1⁄8 inches.

Adult fleas are brown or reddish in color, and mostly live on furry animals such as dogs and cats, but they are also found on raccoons, squirrels, and rodents. Dog fleas and cat fleas can easily find human blood irresistible when they are hungry and you will have multiple bites when you encounter a flea infestation.

Fleas in the house are often brought by your pets, especially cats and dogs that pick them up outside, but you might pick up some fleas on the grass or in someone’s home. They are notoriously fast and persistent, and their small size allows them to hide very well. Most of the time people suspect they might have a flea infestation when they notice a few itchy bite marks.

What Does a Flea Infestation Look Like? 

Even when the infestation is severe, it is difficult to confirm a flea infestation by seeing an adult flea hopping around. Most likely, you may detect itchy bite marks on your legs and ankles, as well as irritated pets.

So, even if you don’t see any fleas, it’s critical to act quickly and treat the infestation while it’s still manageable. Just because fleas are considered less hazardous than some other pests you shouldn’t leave this infestation unchecked.

What Do Flea Bites Look Like?

Flea bites usually appear right away and look like small, red bumps on the skin with a pinkish halo. They are notoriously itchy but not to be mistaken with bed bug bites that appear several days after the bugs bite you.

Flea bites depend on the location and the host, considering they are less likely to be found on furry pets than on human skin. Keep in mind that fleas usually bite “in rows” and leave a train of bites in the same area.

If your pets are scratching more than usual and you see pepper-like flakes on their skin under the fur you are most likely dealing with a flea infestation.

Best Way to Get Rid of Fleas

Fleas might be amazing jumpers and super fast in reproduction, but there are ways you can get rid of fleas efficiently. Let’s mention a few:

1. Use Flea Traps

A flea infestation might be terrifying to discover, but with a few cleverly placed flea traps you can lure and capture the pests from all the hiding places. Flea traps are easy to use and apply, and the strong glue in them will capture all the insects that might be crawling around your home.

The traps are perfectly safe for your family and pets, but they are deadly efficient on pests.

2. Use Specialized Sprays

There are many amazing and gentle flea sprays on the market that you can use on every surface in your home, including furniture, and pet beds and some are even safe for pet skin as well.

When dealing with any type of infestation, it’s critical to thoroughly clean and treat every part of your home where the bugs may be lurking. This will prevent unwanted re-infestation and keep your home bug-free for a longer period of time.

3. Treat Your Pets

Most of the time fleas either come from your pets or make their fur permanent habitat, because it’s dry and warm and there is plenty of food. This is why when dealing with fleas you should treat your pets with specialized shampoos that kill fleas and flea eggs.

The shampoos are also effective on ticks, so you will get rid of multiple pests at the same time and help your pet feel better quickly. Make sure you always choose reliable and safe brands and follow the directions to treat fleas faster.

Pet flea treatmant

4. Manage the Fleas in Your Yard

Once you clean your home it’s time to get rid of all the fleas that might be hiding in your yard, especially if you have trees, bushes, and grass surfaces. 

With the help of strong and effective outside flea sprays, you can kill all the pests and ensure proper pest management and control.

5. Call Professionals

If the infestation is severe and you can’t seem to manage the pests on your own it’s a good idea to call professional exterminators and rely on their expertise. There are amazing teams in your area with the right tools and methods to help you deal with any infestation including fleas, roaches, bed bugs, and more.

Photo of a flea.

Final Thoughts

Fleas may be little, but they are vicious biters who seek human and animal hosts. Because fleas may readily move from your pets to the rest of your home, it’s important to understand what fleas look like and how they behave.

When you are familiar with pests it’s easy to choose one of the solutions mentioned above or rely on pest control for the best results.