How to identify fleas
Fleas are small, about 2.5mm long. Their bodies are shiny and reddish in colour. Fleas are a wingless insect that travel from one place to another by jumping. They can in fact jump as high as 8" vertically. Fleas are a parasitic insect and live on the exterior of their host. They feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds. The most common species is the cat flea which can feed on cats, dogs and humans. Fleas depend on a blood meal from a host to survive, so most fleas are introduced to the home via pets or other mammal hosts.
Signs of a flea infestation
Fleas are relatively easy to see in their adult stage and are usually easy to locate. They can be seen feeding on the skin of pets and often jumping on to a human host from carpets and soft furnishings. Flea eggs, larvae and pupae, however, are much harder to see. These stages are much more secretive and far less active and are found behind and under furniture, pet bedding, inside cracks and crevices and in carpets. Pets may be repeatedly scratching and grooming themselves. This is caused by the discomfort of the flea activity as the adult fleas feed on the pets blood. Bites to humans can also be an indicator to flea activity. Areas bitten can be very itchy and extremely uncomfortable. Flea dirt may also be present. Adult flea faeces resembles coarse ground black pepper and may be seen in pet bedding, carpets, rugs and other areas where the host rests.
