We know that bed bugs hide in our beds and drink our blood. But do fleas do the same?
Well… in this article, we’ll look at why and how fleas get into our beds, and how to get rid of them. Just do well to tag along, okay?
Do Fleas Live in Bed Sheets?
The thing is; fleas can’t go two weeks without blood. As such, they need to stay very close to their hosts from time to time.
As such, fleas are found everywhere they can find food. These places include cushions, mattresses, furniture, rugs, and carpets.
Now, these areas are most visited by two groups of animals; man and his pets. These two animals act as constant blood bags for the fleas.
Worst still, both of them transmit the flea to another via contact with similar beddings. In fact, according to a survey from 2015, about 60% of homeowners share their beds with their pets.
So, when an infected pet ( say; your dog or cat) gets into your bed, some fleas tend to hop onto your bed, rugs, furniture, and carpets. From there, the fleas get the chance to feed on our blood anytime we visit these places.
Since we can’t go a day without using any of these places, anytime we visit it; it’s always Christmas for the fleas.
Okay then. That’s how fleas get into our beds, right? Well…
Do Fleas Now Lay Eggs on Beds?
The short answer to this is yes; fleas can lay their eggs on your bed.
You see, when a young male and a female flea get a chance to colonize your bed, they reach maturity at some point.
Oftentimes, this journey to maturity takes only a few hours. When that happens, the duo mate.
After a short while, the female would begin to lay her eggs on your bed and bedclothes. Within 10 days, flea eggs are expected to hatch into larvae.
And in about 20 days, the larvae mature and the cycle starts all over.
- READ MORE: What Kills Fleas On Contact?
Where Do Fleas Hide in Beds?
Even though their tiny size is enough to conceal them from our naked eyes, flea eggs are still laid in hidden places.
Oftentimes, you can find these places in minute crevices within mattresses. Likewise, you can find flea eggs and larvae under bed covers, within pillows, and inside pillowcases.
Are Flea Eggs White or Black?
Flea eggs are so tiny that you may need a lens to view them. Under the lens, you would notice that the eggs are off-white, oval, and soft-shelled.
This shell is made out of a fetal material called Chorion. And it helps to protect the eggs.
With that said, we can all agree that flea eggs are whitish and not black. Likewise, they are so small that people often confuse them for salt grains, skin flakes, or dry sand.
Is Flea Dirt Same as Flea Eggs? If No, How Can You Tell the Difference?
In the previous section, we made it clear that flea eggs are tiny and oval-shaped. This same description goes for flea dirt as well.
However, flea dirt is black and crumbles when picked. Whereas, flea eggs are white and hard-shelled. But even with these differences, people still mistake them for each other.
To tell them apart, just pick up any white or black speck you see on your bed or clothing. Place the spec on a piece of cardboard paper and add little water.
If you notice a red patch, then it’s confirmed; the spec you have is flea dirt. The red patch you noticed is digested blood. Otherwise, the spec is a flea egg.
Signs of Fleas on Bed.
Indeed, fleas, because of their tiny size, may be difficult to locate. However, there are certain things that give away fleas that infest your beds. So, let’s discuss them thus:
1) Flea Bites.
Although bites can also come from mites and bed bugs, flea bites are also one of the give-away signs for a flea infestation.
Oftentimes, flea bites appear like tiny but itchy red dots with a haloed center on shins, feet, and ankles. Likewise, these bites can line up around the leg and lower limbs.
Using this, you can differentiate flea bites from bed bug bites. Because, unlike fleas, bed bugs bite around faces, necks, and arms. Other side effects that come with flea bites may include allergic reactions like:
- Swellings
- Rashes
- Intense itching
- Rashes
- Anaphylaxis.
2) Flea Residue, aka Flea Dirt.
Flea dirt is mainly flea poop. Structurally, they appear like black specs. You can differentiate them from flea eggs by adding little water on some patches collected on cardboard paper.
If you notice any red patch after wetting, then it’s flea dirt. The red patch is mostly a part of the host’s blood.
The flea dirt we see is the remnant they release as they eat. Hence, flea dirt is one of the most definitive proofs of a flea infestation.
3) Flea eggs.
If you notice any tiny white dots on your bed and clothes, then they’re most likely flea eggs. Just try to hold a magnifying lens at hand.
if you see any white specs that look like an oval salt grain, then you have your flea eggs and probably a flea infestation.
- READ MORE: Does Dawn Soap Kill Fleas?
4) Pet Scratching.
Pets can’t talk. Instead, they use certain cues to communicate their status to their owners. As for fleas, paying attention to how frequently your pet scratches its body is a good step.
This is because flea bites are not often visible on pets because of their furs. Yet, thousands of fleas can lie within those furs drinking their blood and causing severe itching.
Of course, they would need to scratch the bite area as a mode of temporary relief. Try to notice this. However, sometimes, this scratching can also be caused by mites and ticks.
5) Flea skin flakes.
Fleas, at some point in their life cycle, do shed off old skins. They do this to permit growth.
If the fleas reside on your beds, then there’s a high chance that their exuviae, skin flakes, fall on your beds. To see the flakes, you’d also need a magnifying lens.
In most cases, the skin flakes look more or less like tiny tubular casings. This casing is soft and off-white in color.
6) Adult and Baby Fleas.
Locating an adult or baby flea is the confirmatory sign of a flea infestation. Unlike the eggs and the flea dirt, you can see adult fleas with your naked eyes.
Structurally, adult fleas have brown skin tones. Unlike bed bugs, fleas have long back legs adapted for jumping.
How Do You Kill Flea Larvae on Beddings?
To get rid of fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae off your bed, try out the following steps in tandem:
- Remove all bed clothing – Wash them in a mixture of hot water and vinegar. This should help kill the fleas.
- Use a steamer to clean your bed – The high temperature helps to kill all fleas and flea eggs on the bed.
- Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth on the bed – This will also help to kill the fleas by dehydrating them.
- Vacuum the entire bed to remove flea dirt, dead fleas, and flea eggs – Once you’re done, make sure to empty the trash bag and the trash can.
- Make a mixture of vinegar and water – Spray it on the bed and anywhere close. This will help to repel future fleas.
- Treat your pets for fleas- The best way to do this is to visit a trusted vet.
READ MORE: Does Lysol Kill Fleas?
FAQs About Fleas Eggs on Bed Sheets.
- Are Tapeworms from Fleas?
No, tapeworms are flatworms. Whereas, fleas are arachnids. So, tapeworm and fleas are different groups of animals.
However, both of them are parasites. While tapeworm feeds on digested foods in the host’s stomach, fleas feed on blood.
Then again, fleas are one of the hosts for tapeworms. So, as fleas feed on blood from humans and pets, the tapeworms in the flea stomach wallow in a flea’s alimentary canal. Interesting, right?
- Do Flea Eggs Wash off?
Flea eggs are smooth. So, they don’t really stick to clothes like that. As such, simple washing and mild vacuuming will remove the eggs.
- How Do Fleas Get Tapeworm Eggs?
As said earlier, fleas act as intermediate carriers for tapeworms. Oftentimes, fleas get these tapeworms when their larvae ingest a tapeworm egg.
Inside the flea larvae, the worm egg hatches and grows alongside the flea larvae. At some point, an unfortunate pet while shaking off a flea bite with its mouth can accidentally swallow the flea.
As such, the pet also becomes infected with tapeworm.
Final Words.
Fleas can live in beds. At some point in their life cycle, adult fleas lay their eggs inside the crevices in bedclothes, pillows, and pillowcases.
These flea eggs appear like salt grains with an oval outline. Certain things like flea dirt, flea eggs, flea bites, and adult fleas serve as markers for flea infestation.
