Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas

The Dog Flea gets its name because it's favorite hosts are dogs, though it does use other animals as hosts. They cause discomfort by biting, but they can also transmit several diseases. Dog fleas can also serve as an intermediate host for dog tapeworm.

Adults are about 1/8" long. Body is flattened side to side. The color ranges from brownish black to black, but is reddish black when full of blood.

Females lay 4-8 eggs after each blood meal, laying some 400-500 during their lifetime. The eggs are deposited between hairs, or in the nest or bedding material. Eggs are found in cracks and crevices where pets sleep or frequent.

Once on a host, they tend to spend all of their time on the host, feeding, mating, and laying eggs, unless dislodged. Although they have a preferred host, they will bite and can survive using other species as hosts.

Dog fleas can jump about 6" vertically, they can hitch a ride on shoes, trousers, etc.. Fleas can be present even if the building has been vacant of animals and people for as long as 6 months or so. Adults can live for months without food.

Cat Fleas are found throughout the United States and the rest of the world. They not only cause discomfort but they spread diseases. They cause discomfort by biting, but they can also transmit several diseases. Cat fleas can also serve as an intermediate host for dog tapeworm, and for rodent tapeworm. These tapeworms occasionally infest humans, especially very young children. The dog tapeworm commonly infests cats that spend time outdoors.

Adults are about 1/8" long. Body is flattened side to side. The color ranges from brownish black to black, but is reddish black when full of blood.

Cat fleas can jump about 6" vertically, they can hitch a ride on shoes, trousers, etc.. Fleas can be present even if the building has been vacant of animals and people for as long as 6 months or so. Adults can live for months without food.

Ticks

Blacklegged/deer/bear tick is of medical importance because it is an important vector of Lyme disease. It's preferred host is the white tailed deer however will feed on other hosts.

Unengorged female is about 1/8" long. Males are smaller about 1/16" long. They have oval bodies that are flattened top to bottom, they are not hard shelled. They are orange/brown except their legs, mouthparts and scrotum which are dark reddish brown. The abdomen is darker when the tick is engorged.

Adult ticks feed primarily in the winter on the white tailed deer. They mate, the male dying shortly after, the female will remain on the host until spring when she drops off and deposits about 3000 eggs. The larvae hatch and can be found June through September. In September they molt and over winter engorged. They molt into nymphs the following spring. Nymphs can be found April through August with the population usually peaking in June or July.

Blacklegged/deer ticks climb grass and shrubs to wait for a passing host. The other habitat most likely to harbor ticks is the den, nest, or nesting area of its host. It nests in any place that gives shelter such as below ground, in stumps, logs, old bird or squirrel nests, woodpiles, buildings etc.

On humans a favorite feeding area is on the back of the neck, at the base of the skull, long hair makes detection more difficult. However the ticks will wonder for up to 4 hours before they attach

The Brown Dog tick gets its name from the overall reddish brown color and that it is common on dogs. The Brown Dog tick is the species most commonly encountered indoors.

Unengorged adults are about 1/8" long, but enlarge up to 1/2" long when engorged with blood. Their bodies are flattened top to bottom. They are reddish brown in color, but when engorged, engorged body parts of body change to gray-blue or olive color. Males have tiny pits scattered over the back.

The female tick will lay up to typically 1,000-3,000 tiny, dark brown eggs. Eggs are often deposited in cracks and crevices near wall hangings, ceilings, or roofs. The eggs hatch in 19-60 days. Eggs hatch into 6 legged larvae or seed ticks. They crawl down the wall and attach to a dog as soon as possible. Though they can survive 8 months with no food or water. After engorging, they molt into 8 legged, reddish brown nymphs, which can survive for 3 months with no food or water. After engorging again the nymphs will drop off, hide and molt into adults.

Although they rarely attack humans, they can serve as vectors to several disease organisms. The Brown dog tick may attach themselves anywhere on a dog. The adults prefer the ears or in between the toes while the seed ticks and nymphs typically attach on the back.

(Insect Information excerpted from the NPCA Field Guide to Structural Pests)