Are you waking up in the middle of the night with mysterious bites? Do not be so quick to make the assumption that you are suffering from bed bugs. While bed bugs and fleas are quite similar, there are some differences between the two. You should be aware of the fact that the treatment for each critter will be different, so it is imperative that you know exactly what you are dealing with. Below you will learn about the similarities and differences of bed bugs and fleas.
Characteristics OF Bed Bugs and Fleas
Bedbugs and fleas are similar in the fact that they both require a warm-blooded host to survive. However, fleas prefer to feed on animals like cats or dogs. Fleas on the other hand tend to feed on humans. With that being said, fleas and bed bugs will feed on either humans or animals in order to survive.
Fleas are commonly introduced into a home through a household pet. However, humans usually track bed bugs into the home. An adult bed bug can survive up to year, whereas an adult flea can only live survive around two weeks.
When it comes to reproducing fleas are far more active. A single flea can lay 150 to 300 eggs every week, but a single bed bug will only lay 200 eggs in a single lifetime. You can still imagine what a problem this would be if you have several different critter located throughout the home laying eggs. The numbers would multiply quite quickly.
Fleas are a bite more resourceful when it comes to transportation, because they are able to jump around 200 times their body length. Bed bugs cannot jump or fly, they have to crawl from place to place. Throughout history there have never been any known reports of bed bugs passing on diseases. However, fleas have been known to spread typhus, cat-scratch fever, and plague.
Determining If You Have Bed Bugs or Fleas
The best and most effective way to tell which critter you are dealing with is to capture one. Once you have a critter trapped you will be able to immobilize it with clear tap. This will make sure that it does not escape again, and you will be able to make a clear determination at which critter you are dealing with.
Bed bugs are flat and also take on the shape of a seed. They are reddish-brown in color. Fleas are also reddish-brown, but they take on more of an oval shape. Fleas tend to be a bit smaller in size, where they only grow from 1.5 mm to 3.3 mm. Bed bugs can be anywhere from 1.5 mm to 5 mm.
Both bed bugs and fleas are nocturnal, so it can be pretty difficult to locate and capture either of these critters.
Conclusion
If you think that you are suffering from a critter infestation, your best bet is to look for a Boston Exterminator. Both fleas and bed bugs can be very hard to get rid of once they have infiltrated the home.
Pest Control Boston King
1304 Washington St Boston, MA 02118
(617) 315-0021