HOW TO IDENTIFY STICKTIGHT FLEAS
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Sticktight Fleas. By Erik Streb – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Like all the other species of fleas, Sticktight fleas are tiny in size. Their presence is often ignored as they are not clearly recognizable. They look like a tiny dot on the skin and the only way to be sure is by carefully observing them.
They are known to feed on a host at the same spot for a long duration so if the dot-like thing remains for a few hours then it can be a Sticktight flea. Since they are so small in size, it becomes very difficult to identify their structure without the help of a microscope.
Appearance
Like the other fleas, they have a laterally flattened body, though they have a square shaped head. They are half the size of cat fleas. They have antennae and are about 3mm long.
Behavior
Sticktight fleas are attracted to carbon dioxide, heat, and flesh. They are commonly interested in poultry species as hosts. Yet they are not very particular and can also feed on humans, cats, dogs, horse, and other animals.
They cling to their hosts through their bites which results in painful effects on the hosts. Their hold is so strong that it can be very difficult to get rid of them. They do not let go of the host even after they die, which is why they have to be scraped off the skin after death.
Unlike all the other fleas, sticktight fleas do not feel the need to hide in the fur and hair of the hosts. They attach themselves to the soft and bare skin of the host and find it as a suitable spot to feed for a long period of time.
Signs
- Sticktight flea bites can lead to a lot of irritation in the skin.
- Pruritic papules can also be noticed on the lower parts of the affected animal.
- Bullous wounds can also be formed after the bite.
- Swollen eyelids are also a noticeable sign of a sticktight flea infestation in birds.