Are fleas a problem in San Diego?
Autumn is a good time to remember that fleas, ticks and mosquitoes thrive in San Diego County and do not take time off in the fall or winter. The diseases they carry can be challenging to diagnose and treat; many can be fatal, in people and our pets.
Do fleas get bigger as they age?
The fleas you see on a dog or cat are adult fleas. They vary in size depending on the nutrients they got in prior development as well as individual genetic make-up. Adult fleas have an exoskeleton made of chitin, as do all insects. They can?t grow bigger than they are.
Can fleas get big?
Adult fleas are about an eighth of an inch long. They’re reddish-brown and very thin. It’s hard to really see what they look like without a microscope (though it’s easier on a light-colored fur), but they do have big back legs. They can jump, by some measurements, upward and outward at least 12 inches in a single leap.
Are there a lot of fleas in San Diego?
However, in San Diego they are incredibly prevalent. Fleas can die in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 hours or over 120 degree Fahrenheit for several days but these are extremes rarely seen in San Diego. This translates to a heavy flea population year round.
Can a flea infestation make your home worse?
“There are many stories about clients thinking they’re helping to resolve the flea infestation in their home when they are actually making it worse,” says Josh Norsworthy, parasitics product manager at Virbac Animal Health of Fort Worth, Texas.
Why are there new fleas after spot on?
“What clients are likely seeing are new fleas from the environment as opposed to fleas surviving after a proper spot-on application,” says Michael Dryden, DVM, Ph.D., a professor of veterinary parasitology in Kansas State University’s Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology.
What kind of bugs live in San Diego?
You can find paper wasps and mud daubers — nicknamed because their nests look like they’re made of paper and mud — and yellow jackets in San Diego County.
Are there any jumping insects that are not fleas?
Flea beetles are yet another example of small jumping insects that are not fleas. These bugs may hop like fleas, but flea beetles are found on plants, not pets. These herbivorous insects are most commonly found chomping holes in the stems and leaves of garden plants, rather than hanging out in your dog’s coat.
“There are many stories about clients thinking they’re helping to resolve the flea infestation in their home when they are actually making it worse,” says Josh Norsworthy, parasitics product manager at Virbac Animal Health of Fort Worth, Texas.
“What clients are likely seeing are new fleas from the environment as opposed to fleas surviving after a proper spot-on application,” says Michael Dryden, DVM, Ph.D., a professor of veterinary parasitology in Kansas State University’s Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology.
How many Fleas are in the United States?
While owners’ complaints are largely propelled by their disgust at the thought of parasites crawling in their home and on their pet, there’s a lot more to be concerned about from an epidemiologic standpoint. Dryden, who performs ongoing flea and tick biologic research, says North American flea species number more than 400.
What kind of diseases can you get from fleas?
Fleas are small insects that survive by feeding on animal or human blood. Their bites can cause discomfort, itchiness, and irritation. Sometimes, fleas can infect people or pets with the germs that cause flea-borne typhus, plague, or cat scratch disease.
