Do I have Fleas or Bedbugs?
These two critters are sometimes very confusing to distinguish between, not to mention the biting and itching they cause , lets see how they compare and make it easier to identify the differences
Hosts & Habits
Although both need a blood host to survive Bedbugs Prefer feeding on humans whereas fleas will find a hairy/furry animal as a host such as cats and dogs
- Fleas can live up to several months without a host in pupa stage, the adult only lives for up to 2 weeks whereas Bedbugs can live for up to a year if they are feeding.
- Fleas can lay eggs of up to 300 every week where Bedbugs can only lay up to 200 eggs in its entire lifetime up to 1 year
- Fleas normally jump form one host to the other where bedbugs crawl
- Fleas are known to carry disease where bedbugs donโt carry any human pathogens
But what do they look like?
Bedbugs : Has a flat shaped body , red/brown color and ranges from 1.5mm to 5mm โ Bedbugs are usually identified by the digested meals in the corners/piping of your mattress / Couches
Fleas : Has an Oval shaped body , brown/red color and ranges from 1.5mm up to 3.3 mm โ Fleas are normally seen on pets / Carpets and upholstery
Differences in Bites
Flea Bites : The bites of a Flea will appear as small red marks and an intense itch and will usually appear on :
- Waist
- Feet/lower leg areas
- Armpits
- Ankles
- Elbows
- Knees
- Skin Folds
Bedbugย Bites : The bites of a bedbug is small and will have a dark red dot in the middle โ They usually appear in a line/cluster format and will worsen if scratched , they usually appear on :
- Hands
- Neck
- Face
- Arms
Treatments
Bedbugs :
- Vacuum your floors
- Wash your bed linens and other upholstery using hot water and eucalyptus oil
- Bag-up clothing and linen and put them in below-freezing temperatures for several days.
- Remove infested items from your home permanently.
- Alternatively give us a call at Sydneyโs Best Pest Control for any further advice or treatment Options
Fleas :
- Vacuum floors and carpets
- Steam Cleaning your carpets and curtains
- mowing your lawn
- washing your pet with Flea shampoo approved by your vet
- examining your pets for fleas
- puttingย a flea collar on your pet or using flea drops such as Frontline
- Alternatively give us a call at Sydneyโs Best Pest Control for any further advice or treatment Options
Further Readings on Fleas and Bedbugs :
How to do a Bed Bug Inspection
How to differentiate between BedBugs and Fleas
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