Pest Files - Biting Insects
Human Flea
Adult fleas feed on the blood of their host and although most fleas are adapted to one particular animal, many are not host specific and will move to other animals if their preferred host is unavailable.
Fleas are very adaptable and are also able to withstand unfavourable conditions and can live for many days without food. Habitat Fleas are always found close by their hosts, either in direct contact such as among the feathers or hair or within their nests.
Fleas are found in almost all habitats in Australia where there is a ready host and many native species of flea are closely associated with native marsupials and rodents. The main introduced species are also associated with animals that have been introduced to the country such as the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) and the rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis).
Bed Bug
The bed bug belongs to the family Cimicidae which includes several other similar bugs including the bat bug, poultry bug and swallow bug. These bugs feed on the blood of people and warm-blooded animals such as bats, chickens, swallows and other domestic animals. Household sanitation, finding and elimination of hiding places (sealing cracks and crevices, removal of paper and wood trash) are the best method to prevent and control bed bug infestations. For chemical insecticides labelled for the bed bug control see Table 1. Insecticide should not be applied directly to the mattress unless the label specifically gives directions for this use. For these insecticides, apply a light mist to the entire mattress to penetrate the seams, tufts, and folds. Allow the mattress to dry for several hours before use. Bed springs, slats, and bed frames; mattress tufts and seams; and cracks and crevices around doors, windows, and baseboards should be sprayed thoroughly but lightly.
It may be impossible to penetrate all hiding places at once, therefore control may not be immediate and bugs may be seen for several days after treatment.
However, if bugs persist for 2 weeks or more, it is advisable to do a second treatment. For heavy infestations it is recommended that a professional pest control firm is contacted for consultation and/or treating the house.
Cat Flea
Fleas leave irritating bites and can transmit diseases and parasites to pets and humans. Fleabites on people are often found around the ankles and appear as small, hard, red, itchy spots. Fleas can transmit diseases such as plague, typhus and tularemia to humans, as well as parasites such as tapeworms.
Heavy infestations on dogs and cats cause the animals to scratch and bite themselves constantly. Their coats become soiled with dried blood and their skin is roughened. Some animals are hypersensitive to the proteins in flea saliva, so just a few fleas can irritate them. Breaks in the skin can lead to secondary infections. Fleas go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Under ideal conditions, the life cycle can be complete in 35 days or less. In less favourable conditions, complete development can take a year. An adult female flea can lay up to 3,000 eggs in her lifetime.
Biting Midges
Biting midges tend to be especially small, and typically have a wingspan of less than 2mm across. Their small size is an advantage, as it allows them to feed undetected. Biting midges can be identified by inspecting their wings. All of them have very characteristic dark spots or blotches on their wings. The pattern of these markings can help identify which species of the Ceratopogonidae family that the midge belongs to. Only a few of the biting midges actually feed off humans. Many of them feed off other warm-blooded creatures - such as mammals and birds. Some even feed off other insects!
The midge’s larvae are minute and hard to find, however they occur in a wide variety of moist habitats, usually amongst decaying vegetation. The midges find their meals primarily by smell. They can detect their victim’s body odour, and it is suggested that they can also trace people’s breath.
Human Flea
Adult fleas feed on the blood of their host and although most fleas are adapted to one particular animal, many are not host specific and will move to other animals if their preferred host is unavailable.
Fleas are very adaptable and are also able to withstand unfavourable conditions and can live for many days without food. Habitat Fleas are always found close by their hosts, either in direct contact such as among the feathers or hair or within their nests.
Fleas are found in almost all habitats in Australia where there is a ready host and many native species of flea are closely associated with native marsupials and rodents. The main introduced species are also associated with animals that have been introduced to the country such as the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) and the rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis).
Bed Bug
The bed bug belongs to the family Cimicidae which includes several other similar bugs including the bat bug, poultry bug and swallow bug. These bugs feed on the blood of people and warm-blooded animals such as bats, chickens, swallows and other domestic animals. Household sanitation, finding and elimination of hiding places (sealing cracks and crevices, removal of paper and wood trash) are the best method to prevent and control bed bug infestations. For chemical insecticides labelled for the bed bug control see Table 1. Insecticide should not be applied directly to the mattress unless the label specifically gives directions for this use. For these insecticides, apply a light mist to the entire mattress to penetrate the seams, tufts, and folds. Allow the mattress to dry for several hours before use. Bed springs, slats, and bed frames; mattress tufts and seams; and cracks and crevices around doors, windows, and baseboards should be sprayed thoroughly but lightly.
It may be impossible to penetrate all hiding places at once, therefore control may not be immediate and bugs may be seen for several days after treatment.
However, if bugs persist for 2 weeks or more, it is advisable to do a second treatment. For heavy infestations it is recommended that a professional pest control firm is contacted for consultation and/or treating the house.
Cat Flea
Fleas leave irritating bites and can transmit diseases and parasites to pets and humans. Fleabites on people are often found around the ankles and appear as small, hard, red, itchy spots. Fleas can transmit diseases such as plague, typhus and tularemia to humans, as well as parasites such as tapeworms.
Heavy infestations on dogs and cats cause the animals to scratch and bite themselves constantly. Their coats become soiled with dried blood and their skin is roughened. Some animals are hypersensitive to the proteins in flea saliva, so just a few fleas can irritate them. Breaks in the skin can lead to secondary infections. Fleas go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Under ideal conditions, the life cycle can be complete in 35 days or less. In less favourable conditions, complete development can take a year. An adult female flea can lay up to 3,000 eggs in her lifetime.
Biting Midges
Biting midges tend to be especially small, and typically have a wingspan of less than 2mm across. Their small size is an advantage, as it allows them to feed undetected. Biting midges can be identified by inspecting their wings. All of them have very characteristic dark spots or blotches on their wings. The pattern of these markings can help identify which species of the Ceratopogonidae family that the midge belongs to. Only a few of the biting midges actually feed off humans. Many of them feed off other warm-blooded creatures - such as mammals and birds. Some even feed off other insects!
The midge’s larvae are minute and hard to find, however they occur in a wide variety of moist habitats, usually amongst decaying vegetation. The midges find their meals primarily by smell. They can detect their victim’s body odour, and it is suggested that they can also trace people’s breath.
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