Latin: Pulex Irritans
The small human flea has for generations been something of an annoyance to people all over the world. Today, they are rarely seen in Denmark, but in special cases you can still find them in different homes, where they bite through everyday life.
As a pest, the human flea is mainly harmful to humans. However, it has lost some of its presence over the last few years, due to a dryer climate indoors, which is too dry for the human flea to survive in. However, there is still a risk that human flea problems can occur, especially if one’s home is damp and dirty.
Appearance
To many people, the human flea just looks like a “ordinary” flea, which typically means the cat flea. Although cat fleas, dog fleas and human fleas exist, most people are familiar with cat fleas, which also infect dogs and, in rare cases, humans.
A human flea looks flattened from the side and are in average 2-4 mm long. It has a dark brown color all over the body and six legs in total. The hind legs are strong and developed to be jumping legs. It is these jumping legs that enable the flea to make its familiar, high jumps.
As an insect, the human flea also has a larval stage. During this larval stage, one can recognize it by its completely white color. The larva can grow up to 5 mm long, so it is remarkably larger than an adult human flea.
Biology and behavior
Both males and females of this species feed on blood from their host or host animal. Therefore they also mate while they are on the host. When the female lays eggs, the eggs usually fall off the host, as eggs from human fleas are smooth. The egg will then lie in the environment where it hatches. A flea larva will feed on whatever organic material it can find, as well as excrement from the adult fleas that are left in the environment. After some time, the larva pupates. It can wait in its pupa for up to several months while waiting for a host.
Human fleas are known in pig farms, where they can breed and live of pig blood. One can also typically find them on various wildlife such as foxes, badgers, and rats. Now and then you can also find human fleas on domestic animals such as dogs and cats, but with these you will mainly find cat fleas and dog fleas.
Damage
Human fleas are primarily harmful to humans as the name implies. However, in recent times they are almost difficult to find. Nowadays, the average home and the average person is no longer an ideal home or an ideal host for the human flea.
However, one should be aware that human fleas most often breed in pig farms and they like to drink blood from pigs. You must therefore be aware of not contaminating your pigs with human fleas or getting human fleas from your pigs if you keep these.
Prevention and pest control
Prevention of human fleas is mostly done by itself by keeping a normal indoor climate and a clean home. Human fleas like moist environments, making it difficult for them to survive in modern homes, which are typically very dry. If you have got human fleas in the home, you should pay special attention to your hygiene. Human fleas do not survive with regular and thorough cleaning.
If you have noticed one or more bites from a human flea, you can typically get far by quickly washing all the clothes that you have been wearing recently. Take a shower immediately while washing clothes. This can typically remove a few individual fleas before they can reproduce.
In more severe cases of human fleas, vacuuming hatcheries can help. This is typically around the bed, sofa, and other living spaces in the home. If this does not work, you must resort to chemical solutions. There are various types of insecticides that can improve the problems of human fleas. Be aware, that cat flea repellent can work to control human fleas. It is important that instructions on the preparation are followed to the letter when dealing with insecticides and similar substances.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)