Facts about Ticks and Fleas

Ticks and fleas are among the many pests that are out and about this summer. Here are some facts about our famous hitch-hiking friends!

Fleas can live on any warm-blooded animal but prefer humans, cats, dogs, opossums, rats and other rodents.
Fleas can live for about 100 days.
Fleas can jump up to 8 inches high and 13 inches horizontally. This is 150 times its own height. In relation to a human, that would be would be 250 feet vertically and 450 feet horizontally.
Adult fleas cannot survive or lay eggs without a blood meal.
A pupa can live for 2-12 months without a blood meal.
The female flea takes in 15 times her body weight in blood daily.
Flea larvae live and feed on organic debris.
Americans spend about $9 billion a year in their quest to control fleas

There are more than 850 tick species. 200 of which live in the US.
Females in some tick species will increase her weight by 100 times after she mates.
Adult ticks can survive several years without eating.
Adult ticks have 8 legs and two body segments which makes them an arachnid.
Most often, ticks are found outdoors because of their fondness to humidity.
There are 2 types of ticks: hard and soft.
Ticks have barbs which is what they use to attach themselves to their host.