Fleas are not attracted to some people, but other people are highly susceptible. Additionally, some people in flea-infested households may experience severe irritation from flea bites while others show no signs.
Bodily Scents and the Chemical Makeup of the Skin
For example, some people may produce more carbon dioxide than others from their skin reactions, which is a common attractant to various blood-sucking insects and pests, such as fleas.
Other theories suggest that chemical composition can affect flea attraction. Similar to how mosquitoes react to different people, skin secretions and the emission of gases may alert fleas to a more satiating meal in one person than in another, or alert the fleas of their presence quicker.
Insects Love “O” Blood Type
The interesting thing is that some blood types emit more heat and carbon dioxide than others. Humans that are from the “O” blood type are hunted by parasites.
Some people are more sensitive to flea bites than others. Children aged younger than 10 years are generally more sensitive than older people, as people tend to become desensitized by repeated exposure over time.
The human flea prefers the blood of humans and pigs. Cat and dog fleas prefer cats and dogs, though children can become infested when pets sleep or rest on the same bed. Cat and dog fleas also will infest certain types of wild carnivores, including opossums and raccoons, but not squirrels, rats or mice.
There isn't any conclusive evidence that fleas bite women more than men. The primary attraction cues are light, movement, and heat. Thus, it seems unlikely that host gender plays much of a role. While not directly related to fleas, a NY Times article explored the common claim that mosquitoes prefer women over men.
Try Lemon Tonic.
Lemon juice is a known flea repellant. If you dilute the juice with water and put it in a spray bottle, it's safe to use on yourself, and even your kids.
Flea bites most commonly occur on your legs, especially your feet, calves and ankles. Flea bites rarely appear above your knee, unless you spend a lot of time sitting or lying down.
Fleas are not picky pests either! They will lay eggs in rugs, couches, blankets and more. They also will bite ANYONE and that includes you! Caring for our pets includes caring for our homes.
Without a host like a cat or a dog, fleas can live anywhere between a few days and two weeks, but they can lay eggs that make the infestation last longer.
Fleas are so light weight that they can bounce right off the surface of the water because the surface tension of the water prevents them from breaking through. Adding the dish soap reduces the surface tension so the fleas slip through and drown.
Cedarwood oil can also repel fleas from fabric, people, and pets, according to Healthline. Essential oils can be dangerous for pets, so it's important to never use these essences on them or in an area where they can lick the oils up.
It is also an insect repellant and kills fleas," says Jose. "This is the major substance in Vicks, aside from Vicks use in upper respiratory infections, that can be used to repel mosquitoes and even fleas."
Want to kill adult fleas fast? Lower the indoor temperature to freezing, and take all the humidity out of the room. Fleas don't like freezing temperatures or dry conditions. Newly emerged fleas can only survive 3 to 12 days without a blood meal before they starve.
Spray Vinegar and Water Solution Onto Sheets
You can easily make a flea-killing solution at home. Combine equal parts water and vinegar and spray over the fleas. Then, sprinkle salt all over the affected area. This helps keep the area dry, which aids in killing the fleas and larvae.
In terms of being difficult to eliminate and making you uncomfortable in your home, fleas and bed bugs are equally bad. However, the potential to carry serious diseases makes fleas somewhat worse. The fact that they live on various mammals and then travel to human hosts makes them more dangerous than bed bugs.
Do fleas like to live in human hair? No—they don't. That means you can stop worrying about whether you'll catch fleas from your cat or dog. While their infestation may be annoying, you don't have to worry about catching the fleas.
Despite their small size, fleas are incredibly dangerous pests. The biggest danger these small insects pose is the diseases they carry and spread. Some of the most common diseases fleas carry and transmit include the bubonic plague, murine typhus, tularemia, and tungiasis.
When fleas impact humans, they may flock to the eyelashes, the eyebrows, the head, and the pubic region. Hair loss may occur on the body where the fleas are located.
Fleas play an important role as intermittent hosts in the development of at least three species of tapeworms. The double-pored tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) is dependent on fleas as intermediate hosts and on dogs as final hosts.