Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about 3 millimetres (1⁄8 inch) long, are usually brown, and have bodies that are “flattened” sideways or narrow, enabling them to move through their hosts’ fur or feathers. They lack wings; their hind legs are extremely well adapted for jumping. Their claws keep them from being dislodged, and their mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. They can leap 50 times their body length, a feat second only to jumps made by another group of insects, the superfamily of froghoppers. Flea larvae are worm-like, with no limbs; they have chewing mouthparts and feed on organic debris left on their hosts’ skin.
Genetic evidence indicates that fleas are a specialised lineage of parasitic scorpionflies (Mecoptera) sensu lato, most closely related to the family Nannochoristidae. The earliest known fleas are lived in the Middle Jurassic; modern-looking forms appeared in the Cenozoic. Fleas probably originated on mammals first and expanded their reach to birds. Each species of flea specializes, more or less, on one species of host: many species of flea never breed on any other host; some are less selective. Some families of fleas are exclusive to a single host group; for example
3 STEP TO HELP YOU WITH FLEAS
Use baking soda. A surefire way to remove any fleas harbouring in the fibres of your carpet is to sprinkle some baking soda down, give it a scrub and then vacuum it up.
Sprinkle salt. Much like baking soda, salt works in a similar way. If you sprinkle some salt on your carpet, leave for two days and then vacuum up, it will help to get rid of fleas quickly. How does it work? The salt acts as a dehydration agent, which will quickly and naturally get rid of fleas without the use of chemicals.
Lemon spray. Thanks to its acidic juice, lemons are also a brilliant all-natural way to remove the presence of fleas in the home. To make your own remedy, simply follow the steps below:
- Cut a thin slice of lemon and place it in a pan over the hob. Add boiling water and let sit overnight.
- The following morning, decant the lemon-infused liquid into a pour into a spray bottle.
- Spritz onto any flea-infested areas, such as carpets, sofas, pet beds or chairs. Remember to only light spray and do check against fabrics beforehand. The strong scent will kill the fleas and leave your home smelling fresh.
Wash all bedding in hot, soapy water. For mild infestations, wash your bed sheets in hot soapy water. The soap will kill fleas, while also destroying their eggs and larvae. Consider vacuuming your mattress as well. Don’t forget to do the same to your pet’s bed.
Use rosemary. Fleas repel rosemary’s strong pungent smell, so this technique also works wonders if your dog has fleas. In order for it to work, all you need to do is boil some rosemary in a pan with water and leave it to cool down overnight. Then, drain the liquid into a spray bottle (make sure you separate the sprigs so none fall in). The next time you wash your dog, spray some of the natural solution onto its fur and it will keep the fleas away.
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