If you ’ve ever deal with a flea infestation , you know that these diminutive bugs can become a major job tight .
In the United States alone , expert estimate that best-loved parents expend a whopping $ 2.8 billion on flea - related veterinarian bills and another $ 5.6 billion on flea treatments [ 1 ] .
Not only can flea make your favorite unbearably fretful , but in defective - case scenario , they may also cause life - threatening cases ofanemiain kitty and puppies , pass on a harmful parasite bed astapeworm , and even spread disease to pet parent , saysDr . Michael Dryden , a.k.a . “ Dr. Flea , ” who recently go to sleep from a career of didactics and research at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine .
As these minuscule blood - suckers hop onto your dog or cat , rapidly reproduce , and proceed to intrude on the rest of your menage from your carpet to your couch , you might witness yourself wondering : Wait , can fleas vanish ? And if not , how far can a flea jump ?
scan on for the solvent , plus how to well protect your dearie from flea , with expert sixth sense from veterinary parasitologists .
Can Fleas Fly?
First things first : Do fleas aviate or startle ? “ as luck would have it , fleas can not fly , ” saysDr . Heather Stockdale Walden , an assistant professor of parasitology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine . Rather , fleas fling themselves onto moving target by leaping off of the primer .
It would be well-fixed to take on flea might be able-bodied to fly considering just how mellow and far they can jump off , though . These tiny microbe are considered some of the in effect jumpers of all know animals in the world . In fact , their jumping skills are so impressive that some engineers have seek to simulate them in the form of miniature bound robot , per anarticle in theJournal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering .
So , what reach fleas such an awing talent for jumping ? It ’s all thanks to a catapult - like chemical mechanism built into their tiny body .
Understanding Flea Anatomy
A warm lesson in flea shape : Because fleas are n’t flyers , it should add up as no surprise that they have no wings .
So , how many stage do flea have ? Six , and their hindlegs do most of the jumping , say Walden . However , these midget bugs do n’t jump by simply contracting their muscles .
“ The length of a flea ’s jump is not potential with muscle military action , ” says Dryden . “ Rather , they press their hindlegs into a natural rubber - like stamp pad made of a protein called resilin and , like a tensed spring , release the pad to catapult themselves into the aviation . ”
In this sense , flea ’ diminutive foot move like triggers to release the vigor that power a flea ’s high - flying jump . Fun fact : After a flea ’s arbalist chemical mechanism goes off , the midget bug tumbles chop-chop through the air , as if it ’s falling head over heels , allege Dryden .
How High Can Fleas Jump?
Although some species of flea can jump even high , cat fleas ( or the character of flea that typically bear upon dogs and true cat worldwide ) can jump out about 19 in or 48 centimeters in duration , agree to a study inVeterinary Parasitology .
expert estimate fleas can alternate about 150 to 200 clip their own body length . To put this into linear perspective , a 7’3 ” individual dower with the same jump capabilities would be capable to jump over the tip of the Empire State Building [ 2 ] .
of course , fleas ’ power to jump so gamey is a concern for favored parent , whether you ’ve get word jumpers in the Gunter Wilhelm Grass in your backyard or other pups scratching themselves at your local detent park . Chances are , though , your ducky will pick up flea from their surround rather than another whelp .
How Do Fleas Get on Pets?
“ Jumping is the fast and comfortable fashion for fleas to get onto your pet , ” tell Walden . While it ’s possible for your dearie to cull up fleas from rubbing against another animal , most often new - hatched fleas leap from the ground onto moving target [ 3 ] .
While fleas fee on a dog or cat , they produce lots of testicle — up to 40 to 50 per day . As your preferred start at them and shakes them off , they distribute the eggs throughout your home and yard . “ Think of a flea - infested pet as a living salt - shaker , ” sound out Dryden .
Whereverflea eggsland , they develop into larvae which over time grow into grownup fleas case within a cocoon . When the flea detects a potential host from cues like vibrations on the ground , air currents , and heat nearby , it emerges to count for a emcee [ 4 ] .
Once incubate , fleas are attracted to the light and turn towards it in decree to await for something to pass by . Whether the shadow is cast by a African tea , dog , human , or something else , that ’s an indicant to a flea that it ’s time to alternate in the hopes of landing on a new master of ceremonies .
After they ’ve latched onto your positron emission tomography , it only exact flea about 24 hours to set out laying eggs again . They do this by consume 140 percent of their body weightiness in blood . “ flea are not just a pain — they are ravening stemma - suckers , ” say Dr. Dryden .
As frustrative and invasive as fleas can be , there are a few simple ways you may keep your favourite safe .
Protecting Your Pet Against Fleas
Because flea procreate and disperse so speedily , the good way to keep your pet flea - spare is to never allow these tiny parasites to get that far , says Dryden . The fix is simple : Ask your veterinarian for a prescription for an efficient flea prophylactic product and give it to your pet regularly , he says .
If you already have a flea trouble , again , you ’ll want to visit your veterinarian first to learn the right course of discussion for your pet . After that , take additional standard to take in your home of flea eggs as well , says Walden .
Here ’s what to do :
Finally , if you ’re considering giving your dearie a flea bath , skip it — most over - the - counter products do n’t work out tight enough to successfully combat flea infestation these day , as they ’ve build up a resistance to them , tell Dryden .
Keeping your deary on flea bar and thoroughly clean your habitation and G is the best method acting for protecting your darling from these jump parasites .
