What are Sand Fleas?
Sand Fleas are also known as “no-see-um” or “hop-along”, “sand fly”, “beach flea”. “biting midge” as well as a “punky”. They are annoying flea like parasites that can bite painfully and deeply. Their bite is most likely to be described as a sting and as they move along by packs of hundreds, they can cause a massive bite or sting attack together. They mostly feed early in the morning and at late at night on the beach and other sandy areas
How to Identify a Sand Flea
The European species of the Sand Fleas are one tenth of an inch long with the structure of a mosquito while the Sand Fleas found in the American east coast or known as the long horned Sand Flea has an antennae that is an inch longer that its waxy white body. The Sand Flea larvae feed on tiny aquatic animals as well and can be immediately spotted at the beach. Its structure is that of a crustacean that lays its eggs in rotting seaweed. This rotting seaweed is also their meal when not able to feed on humans as they feed on all organic and rotting plants.
When you notice seaweed being washed onto shore, you’ll find a cluster of Sand Fleas around it. It is noticed that they normally feed on paler skinned people as the skin is thinner making it easier for fleas to pierce through. These Sand Fleas reside in the sand during the warm weather, attacking anything that would be 10 inches of the ground such as a beach goer’s legs. A beach goer can spot a bunch of bites around their ankles while looking for seashells. The groups of Sand Fleas can also produce a whine so high pitched that you can hear it, so when you hear a similar sound on the beach, it would be best to get a move on or get bitten. Their stings on the other hand can induce endless welts and lesions with severe pain and itching.
When the weather is cold, Sand Fleas move along with the ocean towards warmer waters to live in. They normally stay by their breeding ground not straying away for more than 350 feet or 100 meters. Sand Fleas are quite persistent in their goal to bite and suck blood that they jump onto the feet, ankles and legs just to bite. The female bites in order to get the protein from the blood she needs for her egg laying.As the flea pierces the skin, they inject their saliva that allows them to draw out the blood thinly making it easier for them. However, this saliva can trigger the human’s body system to react.
The Bad Part of Sand Fleas
These Sand Fleas are known to cause infections such as tungiasis, diseases such as Carrions disease, Pappataci fever virus and Leishmaniasis. Though they are not always seen in the Unite States of America, these Sand Fleas are not a rare find in the Caribbean. It is those people who have visited the Caribbean and returning home, who are carriers of these pests. As they are common in the coastal areas, they can also be found in rotting vegetables, creeks, pools and the like. These eggs can hatch in as much as 4 to 5 days with the larvae feeding on small aquatic animals.
Types of Weather for Sand Fleas
As Sand Fleas doubles up in number during spring, they tend to live on wooden furniture aside from beds in our homes. And thus leads to endless bites from these fleas. However, these Sand Fleas can still be kept at bay with the help of regular usage of insect repellants similar to those used against mosquitoes.
How Do I Know That I’ve been bitten?
A Sand Flea bite can be seen as a little red spot or bump on the skin. As they are known to spread infections like mosquitoes, it is important that treatment must be taken. Like parasites, they attach themselves to their host, piercing into the skin and feeds off the blood of the host. The female Sand Fleas are most dangerous compared to the males and they do not die right after mating.
Usually people only begin to notice that they have been bitten by Sand Fleas after the size of these fleas have increased from a millimeter into a centimeter underneath the skin. To be able to remove this parasite from the skin, one would need to seek help from a doctor or a medical care professional or else you won’t be able to remove them alone. Any attempt to remove them on your own may cause severe infections. And if you should ignore them, you may develop blood clots on certain bitten areas.
Removing Sand Fleas from Our Homes
Removing these parasites from our homes can be a tedious job, but a necessary one if you want to rid of them as soon as possible especially in the warm weathers. The bed linens and blankets would need to be attended to by having it washed with a lot of soap and water. The mattresses as well as furniture will have to be sprayed with a generous dose of pesticide. Keep doing so, until you are confident that the Sand Fleas have been eradicated. As carpets are the ideal breeding ground for these parasites, it would be best to have it thoroughly disinfected and vacuumed each day. Make sure that these carpets and rugs have been cleared off from any eggs left behind.
As for pets, be sure to get them treated as well. These fleas are like dog fleas though worse in the bites and infections. They can live off you pet’s body and then move on to you. Be sure to treat your dogs with flea treatments available for pets. Disinfect the kennel, or bedding and the areas where your pet enjoys snuggling in. This helps in reducing and preventing any stray Sand Fleas there may be living in your home.
It’s best to be kept safe than to risk getting bitten.
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