These bugs are really small in sizes – from 1/16 to 1/8 of inch. They have oval dark-brown body that is enlarged on the back and six legs that enable…

Flea and Tick, What are the Main Differences?

These bugs are really small in sizes – from 1/16 to 1/8 of inch. They have oval dark-brown body that is enlarged on the back and six legs that enable them to jump at long distances (up to 50 cm). If you observe it with an unaided eye, you will only see a small black dot.

The Characteristics and Appearance of Fleas

Fleas have a relatively short lifespan, but living just 100 days they manage to do a lot of nasty things to the host. As a rule, insects live on one animal or human – there is no reason to change dwelling, if the source of nutrition is always cozy (they prefer a mild and warm climate) and rich. Feeding on the creature they live on, fleas drink its blood, lay eggs and may transmit potentially dangerous diseases. A female may produce 20-40 eggs a day which are easily spread by the host around the house.

As a rule, fleas are transmitted from one live being to another by direct contact. The insects prefer invading the coat of dogs, cats, foxes, coyotes and sometimes may live on human’s head, hiding between hairs.

Fleas

Leas are transmitted from one live being to another.

The Characteristics and Appearance of Ticks

Think that flea and tick have the same appearance? Take a closer look. A tick is an arachnoid, which means it has a round body and eight legs. It is not as agile as a flea – it crawls, but may run quite quickly to reach the victim or get away from danger.

What tick do is also sucking blood. But this predator can wait a long time for the right host: it lives from several weeks to three years. At different life stages, an insect may change hosts. As soon as it feeds up, it leaves the creature. Females can lay about thousand eggs in one time! But, luckily, it dies after that, letting the next negation to fulfill its mission. Ticks love cold weather and may survive even in chilly temperature, they sleep during wintertime, and become active in warmer seasons.

They can bite different creatures, including dogs, raccoons, foxes, cats, snakes, lizards, deer, opossums, cattle and human. How do they reach victims? Ticks live on the nature and hide on bushes and trees. As soon as they see a potential host (they are attracted to bright and visible colors like yellow and white, or dark brown and black), they jump on it, find a discreet place where skin is mild and thin, and bite on.

Ticks

Females can lay about thousand eggs in one time.

Comparison Table of Flea and Tick

Here you can see that the pests are distinct in many ways:

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FleasTicks
LifespanUp to 100 daysFrom several weeks to 36 months
AppearanceTiny oval-shaped body with six legsTiny round body with eight short legs
Where they liveUse cats and dogs, raccoons, opossums, foxes and people as hostsDwell in nature (forests, parks), and feed on practically on all living creatures including people
How they reproduceLay 30-40 eggs at once daily during the whole lifespanA female lays about thousand eggs once and dies after that
RemediesSpecial shampoos, cedar and lavender oil, vinegarLemon juice, vinegar, witch hazel, oils for aromatherapy (rose, neem, cedar), garlic, gasoline
Transmitted diseasesTapeworm and bartonellosisLyme disease and spotted fever
Ways of preventionRegular house cleaning, coat checking, special collarsUsing of tick repellent inside and outside the house, shampooing, cleaning of lawn and vacuuming of house

What Their Bites Look Like?

Tick bites

The tick bite you will see immediately.

Flea and tick leave identical bites, but you still can differentiate them.

Fleas usually bite on ankles, wrists and the zones that contact with pets. The traces look like clusters of small red blisters (sometimes bubbles). In some cases, they cause itching and irritation.

Tick bites once and in one place. As a rule, an insect selects a discreet place with soft, thin skin (behind knees, at the inner part of arms, neck, belly, etc.). A bite is also a tiny red dot. People with allergic reactions may develop rash, swelling, nausea and paralysis.

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