FAQ: Do I have fleas or bed bugs?
Scanning Electron Micrograph of a Flea.
So you think something is biting you but you’re not sure what? Many folks eventually find the culprit is fleas, rather than bed bugs.
Myth: I don’t have pets so I can’t have fleas.
Not true!
Fleas can live in your home even if you don’t have pets.
You may bring them in or may be bitten outside, for example you might encounter the types of fleas that bite humans or dogs in grassy areas like a park.
Here are some more helpful images of fleas.
Dog flea (C. canis)
The dog flea according to this UC Davis factsheet, is uncommon in California, though cat fleas will bite both cats and dogs.
Cat flea (C. felis) full of human blood.
(More flea images, from the CDC.)
These images are highly magnified, obviously — fleas are 1/16″ to 1/8″ long. They often look quite a bit darker.
Fleas leap very high, considering their small size, and you may see them doing this. They move quickly close to a pet’s hairline and are hard to catch with your fingers. They often bite the lower legs and feet.
However, flea bites may look like bed bug bites, and as with bed bugs, to identify them, you need to find visual evidence, rather than relying on what your skin reaction looks like.
How to determine if you have fleas
You can also make your own homemade flea trap. Pest management professional and Bedbugger forums regular Paul Bello outlines the steps as follows below:
Materials:
- an old-fashioned desk lamp, the type where you can direct the light with the metal flex arm that extends upward from the base.
- a shallow baking tray of about 9″ x 12″ or larger. The kind you might bake lasagna in is fine. White ceramic bakeware is even better as you can see the fleas easier once trapped.
- some tap water
- 1/2 tsp dishwashing liquid
Preparation:
- Place the dishwashing liquid into the baking pan.
- Fill with about 1/2 to 3/4 inch water and no more. Avoid creating bubbles/suds when doing so.
- Place the baking pan on the floor in a room where you suspect flea activity.
- Place the desk lamp adjacent to the pan such that you can direct the light downward toward the center of the pan. We want the light to be about 6 inches from the water surface. Turn the light on and leave it on.
- Check the trap occasionally to ensure that the water does not evaporate. Replenish the water & soap as needed.
Here’s what happens:If you do have fleas, they will be attracted to the light and warmth. They will travel over toward the pan and hop in. The water will trap them and they will sink in the water due to the soap which breaks the surface tension and causes them to sink. Without soap they will float and may eventually escape.If fleas are present, you will catch some in anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.
How to get rid of fleas
Always be sure you confirm the pest before you start treatment. Keep in mind spot treatments for household dogs and cats (if you have any) may play an important role in eliminating fleas from your home, but may not do the whole job.
You may want to involve a pest management professional.
If you would like to self-treat for fleas, the University of Kentucky has a helpful factsheet on DIY flea treatment. UC Davis has some tips on this also in their factsheet on fleas.
You can purchase flea treatment products from pest control firms or online (for example,DoMyOwnPestControl’s product page on indoor flea treatment), but be sure to follow all label instructions closely, and do your research on safe and effective treatment methods before you attempt to apply pesticides yourself.
British bed bug expert Bedbugger forums regular David Cain provides instructions on a DIY and pesticide-free solution to fleas in this forum post. It involves only baking soda or carpet cleaning powder, and is worth a shot, especially for smaller flea problems.
David writes,
Normally unless its literally hopping alive with fleas I would simply suggest using “Shake n’ Vac” [UK powdered carpet freshener marketed by SC Johnson] or a fine powder such as baking soda. The way it is used is as follows, treat the cat with flea treatment. Remove pets and anyone who may have dust issues from the home and sprinkle the dust over the floor so that it has a fine but even coating. Then take a torch or flashlight and zig-zag the beam across the floors covering all areas. Leave the property alone for 1 hour then repeat the use of the flashlight and wait 15 minutes. Then simply clean the dust up and use a plug in flea trap for ongoing monitoring.Its an incredibly efficient way to physically remove fleas from an area as it relies purely on their physical removal rather than chemical action. The light causes them to jump and they get caught up in the fine dust making them easier to suck away in the cleaner.
Thanks, David!
Got suggestions for improving this FAQ? Have flea photos you want to share? Please comment below!
Oh and, before someone asks,
No posts for a month and then you write about fleas?!?
I know, it’s been quiet around here.
Thanks for your patience and I hope we’re able to give you a lot more to read from now on.
Image credits:
“Scanning Electron Micrograph of a Flea.” Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Janice Carr (License: public domain/US Gov.; source.)
“flea.” Credit: anonymous Bedbugger.com forum user.
“Dog Flea,” and “Cat Flea Full of Human Blood.” Credit: iStockphoto.com.
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