-
- Fleas
-
- Flea jump
Flea - a small blood-sucking insect that lives in animal hair. Despite the size of the pest, in reality it is very dangerous to humans and animals, as it is a carrier of many diseases (encephalitis, hepatitis, typhoid or plague). The parasite is perhaps one of the most jumping creatures in the world. Particularly striking is the flea jumping technique, due to which the pest is able to jump in height at a distance many times greater than its size.
Features
The parasite has a characteristic appearance, as a result of which it can be easily distinguished from other insects. Its narrow flattened body is covered with a chitinous shell of black-brown hue. The pest has three pairs of limbs, the rear of which are the longest. It is thanks to these very enlarged and powerful muscles legs that the flea jumps very high.
Parasite Jump Characteristics
What is surprising is how much flea jumps. After all, the average size of the parasite is only 2-3 mm. However, a flea’s high jump can reach up to 0.3 m, while a bloodsucker is able to jump 0.18 m in length — a distance exceeding its size by more than 100 times. The flea’s speed at the start of the jump is no less striking, and it is about 1.9 m / s.
Parasites especially use this method of moving in case of danger, jumping so fast that a person sometimes can’t even understand: fleas are jumping or crawling. This unique ability is also necessary for insects to search for prey.
Adult individuals living in the open space lay eggs not only in animal hair, but also on the ground itself. The offspring that appeared over time are forced to jump, setting off in search of a warm-blooded host - the source of food. Since fleas jump very high and at high speed, they very quickly find a suitable object for themselves in the form of a person or an animal.
Interesting!
According to American scientists who have studied the flea jumping technique for a long time, at the moment of a push, an insect compresses its body identically to a spring. This allows you to make an elastic shield located in the chest of the insect. The role of the lever is performed by the parasite's paws, with the help of which a sharp jump is made.
What to do if parasites are wound up in the house
Now, when asked whether fleas are jumping, it is safe to answer that they are jumping high enough. That's why flea control should start as soon as possible.
First of all, it is necessary to establish the source of infection. Then process the room and the animal living in the house. It is important to consider how high fleas are, so wall treatment should be done at the waist level.
At risk are not only carpets or rugs, but also sofas, beds, and even soft toys. It is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning, using a decoction of wormwood to clean the surfaces. Linens, rugs and bedspreads should be washed regularly and possibly heat treated.
Prevention is the main guarantee of protection against bloodsuckers. It is important to prevent communication of your four-legged pets with stray animals, after visiting the street they should be combed carefully and use collars to cats and dogs.
