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.

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