Pests of any kind can ruin the comfort and serenity of any home. So, understanding how to identify the exact pest problem affecting your home is vital in solving the issue. Regardless of where you live, there are a few common pests that you’ll encounter.
Two of those common pests include fleas and springtails. Both fleas and springtails pose varying threat levels to the safety and comfort of your home. While both of these pests are different, there are some similarities you can expect.
One of the primary and only similarities between these two pests is that both can jump very high. Aside from that, some noticeable differences will help you identify exactly which of these pests are infesting your home.
At University Termite and Pest Control, we have the tools and experience to handle flea and springtail infestations with lasting results. Our entire team consists of experienced, certified pest control technicians.
Main Differences Between Fleas & Springtails
Fleas come in a red-brown like color and are usually tiny wingless animals. Their bodies are very flat from the top to the bottom portion. This helps them move around their hosts’ fur, which is rather unsettling when you think about it.
Fleas also have very muscular legs that allow them to jump far distances with minimal effort. These are all of the primary identifying traits of a flea.
Springtails, on the other hand, are multi-color and jump by using their furcula, which can be coiled and releases by the pest to jump. The furcula acts as sort of a spring-load for the body of the springtail.
When it comes to how both pests impact the safety of your home and family, their impacts are drastically different.
Dangers of Fleas & Springtails
Fleas feed off of blood and have sharp mouthpieces that can penetrate human skin. Commonly, fleas find their way into your home using an infected pet like dogs or cats. Fleas lay their eggs on their host; when the babies hatch, the larval drops off the host and look for a secret location to develop fully during the pupal stage.
Once the baby flea fully develops, it will continue the vicious cycle as an adult flea by finding a host, laying eggs, and feeding off of them. With Springtails, their natural habitat is in the soil. However, when the moisture content is high in a specific area, they’ll swarm towards it.
Here are some of the most common areas springtails like to hide when suitable soil is not available:
- Flower beds
- Wood piles
- Underneath stones
- Landscape stones
You mainly have to worry about springtails being outside, but if your exterior conditions aren’t optimal for springtails, they will move inside. When springtails search for an interior space to hide, they will search for areas around your home with the most moisture.
So, you can expect them to target areas like kitchens, basements, and bathrooms. If you want to minimize the odds of springtails invading areas like this, you need to seal off any entryways or cracks that may be in the foundation of your walls or floors.
Health Risks of Fleas vs. Springtails
- Fleas can cause very painful bites that may become infected if not properly cleaned or treated.
- Fleas are known to cause hair loss on pets they infect
- Fleas are carriers for diseases that can impact the health of humans and animals.
- Springtails do not pose any immediate threat to the health of humans.
As you can see, springtails do not carry any potentially fatal or dangerous diseases or ailments with them, affecting humans’ well-being. However, it can indicate a significant water leak somewhere in your home if you notice their presence.
So, it’s essential to pay attention to whether fleas or springtails are the issues impacting your home so our team can formulate the correct pest control approach. To protect the structural integrity and comfort of your home, contact us.
University Termite and Pest Control is here to help you!
