Owners of private houses often notice the appearance of earthen fleas. They can get into the residential part of the house from basements, streets and gardens. In this case, the carriers are both pets and the people themselves, who brought them into the room on their clothes.

Where do earthen fleas come from and how to get rid of them?

They get there in the same way as in a private house, namely:

• through the existing cracks in the floor from the basement;
• on the hair of pets that were brought in from the grass or from the same basements;
• on people's clothes;
• from neighboring infected apartments.

In order to quickly and permanently get rid of uninvited guests in a home, you need to know what earthen fleas appear in the house from, how they reproduce and what they eat. For the fight, both folk methods and chemical insecticidal agents are used.

Earthen fleas in the house how to get rid of and what means to use

To effectively combat these pests at home, insecticidal chemicals are most often used. It can be:

• aerosol products, such as Dichlorvos, Combat, Raptor;
• concentrates containing cypermethrin, tetramethrin, permethrin, which are diluted with water and placed in nebulizers;
• powdered products such as Clean House or Phenaxin.

How to get rid of earthen fleas in the yard of a private house

All things in the house should be processed. Only then will it be possible to get rid of the blood-sucking insects that have got into the apartment or private household.

How to poison earthen fleas - folk remedies

To get rid of earthen fleas in a private house using folk remedies, you need to be patient and persistent. At home, herbs and essential oils that have a repellent effect help to get rid of harmful insects.

What are earthen fleas afraid of?

• regular cleaning of rooms, that is, keeping the floor clean leads to a decrease in the level of fertility in adults;
• constant ventilation of the room;
• minimal use of carpets or complete abandonment of them during the fight;
• timely disposal of fleas from pets;
• periodic floor treatment with a solution of soda.

All activities carried out at home in the complex give a good result.

And yet, each species of fleas has its own characteristics, so several sentences, of course, cannot be a sufficient description for several insects of this order at once. The types of fleas with photos and their key characteristics are described in detail below. This information will allow you to understand:

• How fleas look at different stages of development
• How do they reproduce
• How do they differ from each other
• What is the danger
• Who is mostly bitten
• Where are they found

This article reviews the official scientific classification of the species mentioned. In everyday life, people often name fleas on their own, focusing on the place or carrier on which the fleas were found. This approach has nothing to do with the actual definition of species. Cat, dog, human, rat and sand fleas are not fleas that live only on cats, only on rats or only in the sand, they are quite specific species with specific characteristics.

In order to avoid confusion with Russian names, the Latin name of the insect in question will be given in the description of each flea species.

• The official scientific name of the species in Latin is Pulex irritans.
• Also called a house flea.
• The species is believed to be native to South America, where guinea pigs and baker's artiodactyls were its first carriers.
• At the moment, the species is distributed throughout the world.
• An adult insect has dimensions ranging from 0.5 to 4 millimeters.
• The color of the insect can vary from light beige to dark brown.
• Without magnification, a human flea looks like a dark moving point.
• It moves by jumping to a distance of up to 2 meters or even more.
• Lays eggs that look like whitish rice grains, but no more than 0.5 millimeters in size.
• Human flea larvae up to 0.6 millimeters long are covered with hairs.
• The entire life cycle can take from 3 months to 1.5 years, depending on environmental conditions and external circumstances.
• It causes pulicosis, can carry plague, leprosy, typhus and rat typhus, tapeworms and other helminths.
• Bites people, dogs, cats, rodents, ungulates, birds, wild animals.

• The official scientific name of the species in Latin is Ctenocephalides felis.
• For the first time, the species was officially mentioned in 1835 in the scientific works of the German botanist and entomologist Peter Friedrich Busche.
• Now cat fleas are common all over the world.
• An adult insect is usually 1–2 millimeters in size.
• The color is red-brown, females may have beige stripes due to the visibility of eggs with offspring, which she carries inside herself for some time.
• Visually, without magnification, cat fleas look like dark moving points.
• The flea lays eggs up to 0.5 millimeters in size per day.
• In a lifetime, one flea is capable of laying from 2 to 8 thousand eggs, but in reality this figure rarely exceeds a hundred.
• Cat flea larvae are small caterpillars, reaching 2 millimeters in length and covered with hairs.
• Pupae are immobile, brown in color, and resemble fully formed insects.
• The entire life cycle can take from 3 months to 3 years, depending on environmental and external circumstances.
• Can cause pulicosis, cause flea allergic dermatitis, carry rickettsiosis, brucellosis, mouse typhus, Lyme disease, tapeworms.
• Bites people, domestic cats, dogs, wild predators and omnivores.

• The official scientific name of the species in Latin is Ctenocephalides canis.
• The species was first mentioned in the scientific works of the English entomologist and illustrator John Curtis in 1826.
• At the moment it is distributed all over the world.
• An adult insect is 2 to 3.5 millimeters in size.
• The color varies in shades of brown.
• The body is flattened on the sides and covered with hairs directed along the body, which allows the flea to move freely in the animal's fur.
• Dog fleas are difficult to notice due to the structure of the body; visually, they look like barely noticeable dark dots.
• They lay eggs of a pearl color ranging in size from 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters.
• In a lifetime, it can lay up to 4 thousand eggs.
• The larvae are worm-like, 1.5 to 5 millimeters long.
• Including all stages of transformation, dog fleas can live from 3 months to 1.5 years.
• It differs from a cat flea in the shape of the head and in some features of the structure of the hind limbs.
• It can be a carrier of Marseilles fever and rickettsiosis, cause ctenocephalosis, provoke dipylidiosis, and be a source of trypanosomatids.
• In food it is more selective than human and feline fleas, prefers to bite dogs, can bite cats, people, rodents, raccoons and marsupials.

Rat fleas are of two types: southern rat fleas and northern rat fleas.

Northern rat fleas

• The official scientific name of the species in Latin is Xenopsylla cheopis.
• May also be called oriental rat fleas or tropical rat fleas.
• The species was discovered and first described in 1903 during the expedition of banker Nathaniel Charles Rothschild and entomologist Heinrich Ernst Karl Jordan to Egypt.
• The species spread throughout the world thanks to rats that climbed onto merchant ships.
• Currently distributed all over the world.
• In Russia, it is more common in large metropolitan areas.
• The color is dark brown.
• An adult is about 2.5 millimeters long.
• The flea lays eggs of sizes from 0.1 to 0.3 millimeters on the days when it manages to get saturated with blood.
• Under favorable conditions, the female can lay up to 50 eggs per day, up to 600 in her entire life.
• Off-white larvae up to 2 millimeters long are extremely mobile.
• A flea can live from 4 months to 1.5 years, depending on environmental conditions.
• The southern rat flea can jump up to 50 centimeters.
• It is a carrier of bubonic plague, rat rickettsiosis, murine typhus, spotted and Marseilles fever, anthrax, helminthiasis.
• Prefers to drink the blood of rodents, but can bite humans.

Household fleas are not a separate species of insect, but one of the names of the human flea. The official scientific name of the species in Latin is Pulex irritans. See its description and photo in the section "Human flea" above.

Sand flea

Ground fleas are not a separate species of insects, but one of the names of the sand flea. It completely sounds like a "Brazilian earthen flea". The official scientific name of the species in Latin is Tunga penetrans. See its description and photo in the section "Sand flea" above.

Ground pests lead an active lifestyle, jumping up to 1.5 meters in height. They move quickly and may end up even on the highest floors of a multi-storey building. They settle in houses at a distance of no more than 2 meters from the floor. Choose places with sufficient moisture, dark, secluded. The human home is suitable in all respects.

Because such conditions are everywhere. If possible, they settle under the floor. This is especially true for private houses. Can be justified:

Fleas can be found all over the house. Earthen fleas love the accumulation of something and get closer to food, that is, to a person or a pet. In addition to the fact that insects can be found anywhere, their larvae create an unpleasant picture. These are small worms that hide in dark, humid places. They can live in close proximity to adults or separately. Since blood is not the main ingredient for nutrition, non-organic food is sufficient.

Video about earthen fleas:

Penetration routes:

• Pets;
• cracks in the wall;
• cracks in the floor;
• skirting boards;
• ventilation ducts;
• clothes.

Structure, reproduction, behavior features

It is very difficult to see the smallest insects in the basement, but you cannot check your clothes when you return. will be labor. Jumping insects reach a length of 0.5 mm. Dark color - almost black. Body flattened at the sides. 3 pairs of legs. The latter are much longer, which provides them with jumping ability. Due to this, the body is lifted up.

They multiply quickly. They lay eggs already 2 days after mating. This is followed by the larva, which appears after 10-14 days in the form of a worm. Within a week, the worm molts 3 times and pupates. A young insect emerges from the pupa. The female lays 5-15 eggs at a time and up to 50 eggs per day. If 2 females and 1 male get into the house, then it will not be possible to be quietly there for a month. Earth insects are active at any time of the day. But, as the victims themselves noticed, the bites become more frequent in the evening.

Signs of room contamination

You can feel the bites while standing on the floor. Moreover, the lower limbs are attacked. Sharp sensations of pain become a sign of infection at home. Before that, you can find small black dots that jump quickly, but so far no one pays special attention to them. The bites are similar to mosquito bites, but are smaller and last longer. In the center, caked blood may be found. There is swelling, redness around. They pass for a long time, itch and itch. In people prone to allergies, they cause severe irritation. The rash can spread all over the body.

In addition to feeling bites on your body, you can observe irritability and constant scratching of pets. Ground lice do not disdain their blood either. Pets will be the first to suffer. It is best to hide in wool and food is always nearby. Although these insects after a decent meal can starve for almost 1.5 years.

You can identify pests in your home using a white sheet of paper. Spread it on the floor, and after a while look at it. The presence of black dots, which quickly fly apart at the slightest movement - these are earthen fleas. Thus, you can find out where they settled. And start processing the premises.

How to deal with an invasion using folk methods

It must be understood that it is finally possible to get rid of the bloodsuckers in the house only when the cause of the infection is eliminated. If fleas appear in apartments from the basement or attic, you cannot do without the help of SES. Do not delay it.

Independent efforts will not give the desired result. You need to fight the misfortune with the whole house using professional methods.

Earthen fleas are often confused with leaf beetles - real earthen fleas, which are quite harmless creatures. The first ones belong to bloodsucking insects, causing a lot of inconvenience to humans and animals.

The flea goes through 4 full stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult.

The habitat of the earthen flea

An earthen flea is also called a basement because it loves dark, humid places, for example, the basement of a private or apartment building, from where it can get into living quarters. This is facilitated by cracks in the doorway, walls and floor, ventilation holes. Often fleas are brought into the house with shoes and outerwear, pets.

An acquaintance of mine, who lives in an apartment building on the first floor, had pipes constantly leaking in the basement. Due to the fact that it was always dark and damp there, a large number of fleas bred. From there they made their way into the entrances and apartments. There were also mice in the basement. All cats went there to hunt, including domestic ones, which only walk outside during the day. And fleas began to "attack" the cats and, together with the latter, entered warm, cozy apartments.

The greatest activity of earthen fleas is observed in summer and early autumn.

In living quarters, fleas feel great. There you can always find a “victim” and feast on its blood. In addition, the apartment has secluded corners where you can hide and lay eggs.

Most of all, bloodsuckers like:

• gaps in the floor, between baseboards, floor and walls;
• the space under the linoleum in places where it lags behind, under the entrance mat;
• carpets and carpets;
• fabric upholstery of upholstered furniture;
• mattresses and the space under them;
• Stuffed Toys;
• space under furniture and bathroom;
• any places where moisture and dust accumulate;
• pets, their beds and rugs.

Earthen fleas love dark places with high humidity.

Many people mistakenly believe that fleas can only be found in a house where a cat or dog lives. The same friend always had only an aquarium with a few fish, and fleas made themselves felt regularly.

Outwardly, a cluster of earthen fleas resembles a multitude of moving black dots, which begin to "scatter" in different directions at the slightest movement from your side. It is not difficult to find them. It is enough to carefully examine the above places for adults, larvae and eggs through a magnifying glass.

You can also experiment. Put a white sheet of paper on the floor and wait a while. If there are fleas in the house, then they will surely rush to this white spot. On the surface of the sheet, you can see "jumping" black dots.
You can find earthen fleas in an apartment using a white sheet.

Danger of flea bites to humans

• typhus;
• anthrax;
• hepatitis;
• tularemia;
• encephalitis;
• salmonellosis;
• listeriosis;
• plague;
• fungal infections.

First aid for a flea bite

The bite site should be treated with any antiseptic. If you are very concerned about itching, then you should purchase a soothing ointment for insect bites. If you experience symptoms such as drowsiness, fever, lethargy and a general deterioration in well-being, you should definitely seek medical help. If there is no infection and allergic reaction, then the bites will cease to bother after a few days. This will depend on the individual characteristics of the victim's body.

If fleas have bitten a child

Flea bites are harder and more painful for children. The latter appear as red blisters. Sometimes a small rash (urticaria) appears on the body, in addition, the child constantly scratches the bite, which is why it often introduces an infection.

The child should definitely be shown to the pediatrician if there is:

• body temperature above 37 ° C;
• diarrhea;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• irritability;
• general weakness;
• rashes on the body.

Earthen flea control methods

If fleas were found in the room, then you need to act immediately. Special chemicals against insects and folk remedies that are safer for others will come to the rescue. The latter are not so effective, but they are quite useful for prevention and as auxiliary ones.

Upholstered furniture, mattresses, carpets, curtains are treated with products that are harmless to humans and animals. Floor and all hard washable surfaces can be treated with more toxic chemicals.

Pay special attention to the bathroom. Under the bathroom, where it is dark, damp and warm all year round, fleas feel especially good.

A steam mop is available. It will allow you to process upholstered furniture, mattresses, carpets, etc. with hot steam. Fleas cannot stand high temperatures.

You can also contact a special insect control service. Professionals with the help of effective and safe means will help to cope with the "flea invasion" for a long time.

There are many ways to deal with basement fleas.

Getting rid of fleas with chemicals

All chemical insecticides can be divided into three groups:

• powders;
• aerosols;
• liquids (sold in ampoules).

It is most convenient to use aerosols, since they can even be used to treat secluded places. Walls should be sprayed at a level of 1–1.5 m. Fleas do not climb higher.
Carefully handle the shelves in the lower kitchen cabinets and the space behind them

Powders are scattered throughout the room, and liquid poisons are first dissolved in water, and then floors, furniture, window sills and walls are washed with this liquid.

When choosing an insecticide, be sure to see if there is a mark for crawling insects. Such a remedy will be as effective as possible.

Insecticidal Powder

Powders are good because they stick to the paws of insects, due to which they are carried along all the cracks. Processing is done as follows:

Spray can

You can use either a commercial insecticide in an aerosol or prepare yourself from the preparations in ampoules. On average, 10 ml of the product is required per 1 m 2 of the surface.

Step-by-step instruction:

After spraying a room, it is important to keep windows and doors closed for 2-3 hours. Restricting free access to air from outside contributes to a more efficient elimination of fleas.

Wet treatment with insecticide

You will need ampoules for preparing an insecticidal solution. To fight fleas you need:

Chemicals for the fight against earthen fleas

Insecticidal preparations may differ in active ingredients. The most common ones are:

• preparations based on dichlorvos. To make the treatment as effective as possible, it is carried out at least twice. Dichlorvos affects the nervous system of the insect and causes paralysis, as a result of which it dies. May be dangerous to animals and people;
• preparations containing pyrethroids, pyrethrins. These are substances that have a lethal effect on the nervous system, provide a long-term effect, but have a negative effect on animals. They are better for treating only washable surfaces;
• fipronila. They have a paralyzing effect on the nervous system, are safe for animals and humans;
• imidacloprid (neonicotinoids). Safe for warm-blooded creatures, but effective against crawling insects.

The most popular chemicals are as follows:

• Raptor, Raid. Convenient to use aerosols, safe for children and animals;
• "Get" - the product has a pleasant smell and does not spoil the surface of furniture, including lacquered ones. But it is undesirable to use it if there are pregnant women and children in the house;
• "Kombat" is an insecticide of contact-intestinal action. Sold in ampoules and aerosols. It has an unpleasant odor, damages the furniture coating, but is low-toxic to humans and animals. Security measures: airing and thorough wet cleaning;
• Dichlorvos is a proven product that can be bought as an aerosol. Modern drugs are low-toxic to humans, but it is still necessary to ventilate the room for a long time after processing;
• disinfectant solution neostomazana. Release form - ampoules. Harmless to all warm-blooded creatures.

To maximize the effectiveness of drugs in the manufacture of solutions, you need to use water without chlorine (purified or settled). Chlorine interacts with the active substances of insecticides and weakens their effect.

There are also special preparations that are distributed in the form of steam throughout the room. But they are ineffective compared to aerosols and powders.
Insecticide "Raptor" is distributed in the form of steam throughout the room

Folk methods of struggle

Traditional methods are safer than chemical ones, but they are significantly inferior in effectiveness. Some agents act exclusively as repellents, while others are capable of destroying insects and larvae.

Scare away with plants

Fleas do not tolerate the smell of wormwood, tansy and damask chamomile. Fresh stems with leaves and flowers are laid out in problem areas. Every two days, wilted plants are replaced with fresh ones. The method is effective, although it will not work to destroy the pests and their offspring.

In the same way, you can use sawdust of coniferous trees, peel of orange and lemon, strong-smelling spices, garlic.
Earthen fleas do not tolerate the smell of cedar

Wormwood tincture

The ready-made concentrated infusion is sold at the pharmacy. You can also cook it yourself:

1. Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Add a handful of chopped herbs and simmer for a minute.
3. Turn off the heat, let the liquid cool.
4. Insist for 4-5 hours, and then strain through a sieve.
5. Dissolve the finished infusion in clean water at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 tbsp. water.
6. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and treat the favorite flea spots in the house.
7. Repeat the procedure a week later.

In the same way, you can prepare infusions of tansy, eucalyptus leaves, damask chamomile.

Infusion of tansy is considered one of the most effective folk remedies for fleas.

A mixture of soda and salt

Another popular remedy is a mixture of baking soda and table salt. The processing process is as follows:

1. Mix equal amounts of salt and soda (1: 1).
2. Scatter in the corners of the house, near the baseboards and the front door.
3. Leave it overnight, or better for a few days.
4. Vacuum up.

Soda and salt are often used to repel crawling insects.

Ammonia

Eucalyptus, geranium, cedar, clove and mint essential oils are most often used to combat earthen fleas. They are added to water for washing, making sprays, and also used in their pure form:

• for wet cleaning, add 5-10 drops of oil to a bucket of water. It is advisable to carry out such a procedure at least 2 times a week;
• for the preparation of a spray for 1 tbsp. water will need 3-5 drops of oil. The bottle is shaken well, and then cracks, joints and other places in the house are treated;
• for pure use, a few drops of oil are applied to napkins or cotton pads, and then the latter are laid out under furniture, in corners, near the front door, etc.

A friend of mine prepares a spray with eucalyptus and mint essential oils to prevent the reappearance of fleas. He processes all problem areas in the apartment 1-2 times a week. He says that he even got less sick, since these oils are capable of killing microbes.

Brewer's yeast is mixed with minced garlic in equal proportions. This paste is used to treat problem areas in an apartment or house. After drying, the product is collected with a vacuum cleaner. The smell of garlic, combined with yeast, acts as a powerful repellant for any insects in the house, but it can be annoying for all family members as well.
The smell of garlic repels fleas and other insects

Borax, botanical dust

These are relatively safe insecticides that have exactly the destructive effect. They are used as follows:

1. Premises are cleaned.
2. Spread the powders in all flea areas and leave overnight.
3. Collect with a vacuum cleaner and carry out wet cleaning (you can use ammonia or essential oils).

It is better for pregnant women, children, pets to leave the premises during processing.
Boric acid can kill both adults and larvae

Kerosene

Kerosene has a strong, unpleasant odor. It is used in a diluted form for washing floors and treating carpets. A bucket of water will need 50 g of kerosene. When processing problem areas, you can make more concentrated solutions (1: 1).

Kerosene is a highly flammable substance. Smoking in the treatment room is prohibited.

Video: folk methods of dealing with earthen fleas in the house

Flea safety precautions

Since most insecticides are toxic and can harm the human body, you should not neglect the means of protection. You will need:

• respirator, gauze bandage;
• protective glasses;
• rubber gloves.

Remember to ventilate the area after processing for several hours. It will be ideal if you can leave the house for 1-2 days at the time of processing.
Gloves and mask - reliable protection when working with chemicals

If there are children in the house, pregnant women

Small children crawl around the apartment, touch everything with their hands, and then put their fingers in their mouths. Pregnant women breathe in harmful vapors, which can negatively affect the development of the fetus. In such cases, only completely safe means can be used. These are the same folk remedies, with the exception of boric acid, botanical dust and kerosene (its smell can cause nausea in pregnant women) or on the basis of neonicotinoids, neostomazana (look at the package). Children and pregnant women must leave the house during chemical treatment. After the procedure, a thorough wet cleaning is carried out and the room is ventilated for a long time.

If there are animals in the house

It is undesirable for pets and birds to be in the house during processing. If there is nowhere to put them, it is recommended to use only those products that are sold in a veterinary pharmacy and are safe for animals, for example, drugs with the active ingredients fipronil, neonicotinoids, neostomazan.

Prevention of the appearance of earthen fleas in the house

Video: how to deal with earthen fleas in an apartment or private house

Cleanliness and dryness in the room is a guarantee that earthen fleas and other insects do not want to settle in the house. If the "neighbors" did appear, then you need to immediately start an active fight against them. At the same time, it is worth remembering that it must be complex, and then fleas will not appear in the house again.