In some flea species, flea babies feed on adult flea poop, which contains blood. Female fleas lay eggs after feeding on blood. They feed on your blood as part of their diet. Flea bites rarely appear above your knee, unless you spend a lot of time sitting or lying down. Flea bites may appear in a straight line or a cluster of many bites.įlea bites most commonly occur on your legs, especially your feet, calves and ankles. A discolored ring or halo may appear around the bite. The following factors attract fleas:Īfter a flea bites you, a small, discolored bump forms. If there isn’t an animal in the area, fleas will bite anyone. Who is at risk of being bitten by a flea?įleas prefer to bite animals. Histamine is what causes your flea bites to itch and swell.
Your immune system then sends the chemical histamine to the area where the flea bit you to remove the allergen from your body. When a flea secretes saliva into your bloodstream, your body registers the saliva as an allergen. Their mouthparts include a tiny needle (proboscis) that pierces your skin, sucks your blood and secretes saliva into your bloodstream. What happens when a flea bites you?įleas have strong claws on the ends of their legs that they use to hold onto a host. Fleas like animals with a lot of fur because fur allows them to hide easily. Dogs and cats have much more hair than humans. However, the flea species that commonly bother dogs and cats don’t live on humans. In some flea species, especially the species that commonly bother dogs and cats, baby fleas (larvae) feed on blood-rich adult flea poop (feces). They often hide in carpet, furniture, bedding and cracks in the floor. Once inside your home, fleas may jump off an infested animal and hide. On dogs, cats and other animals, fleas live around the ears, neck, back and belly (abdomen). Fleas hop onto animals when they walk by these areas. They live around trees, leaves, tall grass and shrubs. Outside, fleas prefer cool, damp areas with a lot of shade. Where are fleas found?įleas are most active when the weather is warm. However, flea bites can be dangerous because they may spread diseases that can be serious or even fatal. They cause mild annoyance and irritation for a short period. There are more than 2,500 flea species in the world and more than 300 species in the United States.įlea bites rarely cause any lasting harm. Their hind legs are longer and stronger than their legs in the middle and the front, allowing them to jump over 12 inches.
#Jumping line cat skin
They have six legs, strong claws on the bottoms of their legs that allow them to hold onto a host and mouthparts that pierce your skin and feed on your blood. They are dark brown or black and have flat bodies. What are flea bites?įlea bites are small, discolored bumps on your skin that come from a flea feeding on your blood.įleas are tiny, wingless insects. Flea bites are small, discolored bumps on your skin caused by an insect feeding on your blood.
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