Fleas and Bed Bugs – Jenkins Pest Control San Antonio

Fleas and bed bugs are two of the most common types of bug bites you will encounter in your home. Telling the two types of bites apart can be difficult, however not impossible. Being able to determine which pest you have by your bites can be critical in helping you get the right treatment to take care of the problem. You will want to get rid of these pests quickly, as they are more than just an annoyance, they can carry many diseases.flea control in san antonio

Differences Between Bed Bugs and Fleas

While both insects enjoy feasting on blood from warm-blooded hosts there are several differences between the two, such as:

Fleas tend to enjoy feasting more on your furry pets, such as cats and dogs, while bed bugs prefer feeding on humans. For these reasons, animals and pets usually bring in fleas while bed bugs are usually brought into the home from other humans.
Adult fleas usually cannot survive more than 2 weeks without a host to feed on, while bed bugs can live up to a year without food as adults
One flea will lay up to 300 eggs each every week that it’s alive, while bed bugs will only lay about 200 in their life time.
Fleas are known for being great jumpers, jumping almost 200 times their own body length of about 13 inches. Bed bugs do not jump or fly at all.
Bed bugs do not tend to spread human diseases like fleas can. Fleas can spread several diseases from one host to the next, such as typhus and cat-scratch fever.bed bug exterminators

How to Tell Bed Bugs and Fleas Apart?

Bed bugs have a flat seed-like shape and are a red-brown color. They can range in size from 1.5 mm to 5 mm. They are nocturnal insects and are typically found along the lining of your mattress and box spring. They can also be found around baseboards and any other hidden crevices.

Fleas are also a red-brown color, however they are more oval shaped. Their bodies are longer and thinner, rather than flat. They also tend to be less than 3.3 mm in size. They are also nocturnal, however you are more likely to find them attached to your pets or in your carpet and furniture, waiting to find someone to hop onto.

Bed Bug Bites vs Flea Bites: What are the Differences?

Flea Bites

Flea bites can appear just about anywhere on the body, but they are most frequently found on the lower extremities, such as waist, feet and legs. The spots will usually appear in clusters of blotchy, red and swollen spots and be horribly itchy. The bites tend to have a “halo” shape around the actual bite that you can see when you press on the bite. It’s possible for flea bites to form a blister, but rare.flea control - pest control san antonio

Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites tend to resemble mosquito bites with a hard, swollen bump that appears most often on upper extremities, such as neck and arms. The one main similarity to flea bites is that they will itch, however they don’t tend to cause a rash like flea bites do. Bed bug bites tend to form a linear pattern instead of a cluster and do not have the halo look. Instead, they tend to be inflamed and blister.

Frequency of Flea Bites vs Bed Bug Bites

You won’t see bed bug bites as consistently as flea bites. They usually only eat every few days. Fleas, though, will eat constantly; creating an ongoing issue that will not go away until the pests are treated.

Eliminating Fleas and Bed Bugs

One of the most difficult obstacles in dealing with either bed bug or flea bites, is eliminating the source of the problem.. It can be difficult to track all of the fleas or bed bugs down, since they don’t have a central nest like many other pests. Fleas especially, can get around and breed so quickly, it can be hard to eliminate them, before their numbers have been replenished.Sann Antonio, Tx Pest Control

It is always best to contact a pest control specialist to help you eliminate your flea or bed bug problem. These pests can carry diseases and be harmful to your family and pets, so it’s best not to take matters into your own hands. A pest control professional can create a plan that will eliminate your current problem and work to prevent any future infestations. For more information, call Jenkins Pest Control in San Antonio