The rat flea is an insect recognized as the most dangerous blood-sicking parasite among its ilk.
These fleas often change their prey, easily adapt to any conditions and are able to live without food for a long time.
During the Middle Ages, they caused the death of many people.
Appearance
There are 2 types of rat fleas: European and south. The latter is parasitic on ordinary gray rats that live in sewers and cellars. This species is the most common and dangerous.as it carries terrible infections.
Initially, these fleas lived in tropical regions and subtropics.from where settled around the world. Outwardly, they practically do not differ from other types of blood-sucking parasites. The length of the body does not exceed 3.5-4 mm. On the sides, it is strongly flattened, so the flea is difficult to crush with your fingers. Integuments chitinous, shiny, dark chestnut color.
Both varieties have 3 pairs of legslocated on the thoracic segments. The front and middle legs are short, designed to move around the body of the host, the back ones are much longer. They are distinguished by thick femoral segments and elongated legs.Such a structure of the limbs helps to make long distance jumps (up to half a meter).
On the head are simple round eyes and a small mustache. Piercing and sucking mouth apparatus consists of the upper and lower jaws, as well as the lip, equipped with small palpi.
The egg has very small dimensions, length does not exceed 0.6 mm. It is oval, painted in white or yellowish color.
The larva looks like a little worm. Covers are transparent, whitish. Legs, antennae and eyes are missing, which does not prevent the larva from actively moving in search of food.
Next you will see a photo of rat fleas:
Rat flea lifestyle
Bloodsuckers can not be on the owner's torso all the time. The rat plays the role of the dining room.where the parasites come to eat. When fed, the flea jumps off the rodent and returns to its permanent habitat. Most often bloodsuckers settle in rat's neststo have constant access to the victim's body.
Here the females lay their eggs. Fertile individuals in their short life can produce more than 350-370 of their own kind. They lay eggs gradually. 6-7 pieces per day. The development of eggs takes 4 to 9 days, then the larva leaves it. She begins to actively feed on plant debris, adult flea excrement and dried blood residues.
The larva passes through 3 molts. Its development takes from 9 to 16 days under favorable conditions and over 150, if the conditions for life are unsuitable. Optimal accommodation at a temperature of 21-23 ° and humidity not more than 75%.
After this comes the pupal stage. The larva, which already looks like an adult insect, is wrapped in a cocoon and "asleep". This stage completed under normal conditions after 2-4 daysbut may continue for several months.
An adult individual emerges from the pupa and begins to search for the victim. A flea can do without food for a long time.. But really, having found a suitable owner, he sticks to it for a long time in order to get enough of it.
Harmful rat fleas
These parasites can eat not only the blood of rats. People and pets are also prey to rat fleas. And their bites are very sore. Unlike their relatives, parasites of rats do not release anesthetic enzyme.
In addition, the bite site often becomes inflamed, severe itching occurs, tumor, redness, festering. Often there are allergic reactions, the bite becomes dense, does not pass for a long time. Multiple bites can cause general body reactions in the form of lymph node inflammation, headaches, the formation of ulcers in the oral cavity and nervous breakdown.
And this is not the worst harm from a bite! Rat fleas actively spread dangerous diseases such as salmonellosis, rat typhus, brucellosis, tularemia, encephalitis, anthrax and the plague. Rat fleas were the main culprits of the plague epidemic, which reduced Europe’s population by a third in the Middle Ages. The bite of a rat flea resembles a game like Russian roulette. Here the main question is the same: will it blow or not?
And again, not all dangers! Any rat flea necessarily carries a whole bunch of helminth eggs. When biting, she is guaranteed to pass them on to her victim.
Bite treatment
- Wash the wound with warm water and soap.
- Process iodine or brilliant green.
- Attach something cold to the wound.
- Take any antihistamine medicine..
- The bite itself should not be combed. Itching can be removed with an ointment intended for the treatment of insect bites.
Below are photos of rat flea bites:
Ways of penetration of rat fleas into homes.
The main hawkers of fleas are their direct owners - rats. Having got into the apartment house, the rodent will leave behind a "present".
Also fleas can come on residents' clothes or in a bag. They can bring cats or dogs from a walk. From the basements parasites can penetrate the apartments through slots in the floor or air vents.
Fight against rat fleas
Proceed to the destruction of fleas in the house should immediately after their detection! The longer the pull with the operation, the more parasites will have to infer. Do not forget that rat fleas breed with great speed!
First you need to process pets. For this there are many tools.
- Collars. They expel parasites from an animal in a couple of days and protect against an attack for 1 or 2 months.
- Drops. An insecticide that is effective and low-toxic to an animal should be placed on the skin where the pet cannot lick it.You can use any anti-flea drops, for example, Celandine, Stronghold, Leopard.
- Shampoo. Suitable only for those animals who are accustomed to swim. Effective means such as Front line, Celandine, Mr Kiss.
Sprays are used to protect people. containing deet. They help scare rat fleaswithout letting them jump on a person and bite him.
Removing fleas from home is more troublesome and time consuming. To get rid of these parasites, it is recommended to call a special professional service. She will be able to eliminate all rat fleas the first time.
Deciding to destroy insects yourself, choose a good effective insecticide. Can come with drugs against any household pests: cockroaches, ants, bed bugs.
- Sprays and aerosols. Effectively work Combat, Reyd, Raptor.
- Liquid concentrates. Not only perfectly destroy insects, but also protect the house from re-invasion for several weeks. Can apply Sinusan, Geth, Chlorpirimak, Executioner, Biorin, Digox.
- Dusta. Used to bait the larvae. Act long. Most popular Clean house, Fas, pyrethrum powder.
How to handle the house?
Fleas settle in secluded corners with a large accumulation of dust and dry debris. Therefore, first of all you should get rid of pollution. During the general cleaning will have to look into every corner, move furniture away, remove carpets from walls and floors. Garbage to collect the vacuum cleaner, and throw out the bag from it or wash it thoroughly.
After cleaning, you can begin treatment with insecticides. Recommended spray all suspicious places of possible habitat of parasites. Dusts and powders scatter in the nookswhere insecticides will not be able to get children and pets.
In a private house with a garden plot, it is necessary to carry out deratization in order to eliminate rats as the main source of parasites. You can read more about fighting rats here. After that, proceed to the destruction of fleas.
In the fight against the most dangerous blood-sucking parasites, all means will do! To ensure that rat fleas are eliminated, it is advisable to combine several insecticides at once and re-process them. Successful hunt!
