List of articles № 157
What does a bedbug look like: photos and dimensions?
Bedbugs are small, oval‑shaped insects measuring 4–5 mm in length when unfed and expanding to about 6–7 mm after a blood meal. Their bodies are dorsoventrally flattened, facilitating movement through fabric seams and mattress crevices. The exoskeleton bears a smooth, glossy surface without visible segmentation.. Date latest changes:
How does a regular tick differ from an encephalitis tick?
Ticks are arachnids belonging to the order Ixodida, closely related to spiders and mites. They possess a dorsoventrally flattened body, a capitulum that houses the mouthparts, and four pairs of legs after the larval stage. Their life cycle comprises egg, larva, nymph, and adult phases;. Date latest changes:
How to remove household bedbugs at home?
Bedbugs are small, oval insects measuring 4–5 mm when unfed and expanding to about 7 mm after feeding. Their bodies are flat, reddish‑brown, and lack wings. Antennae are short, and they possess six legs with visible banding near the tips. Abdomen shows a subtle orange‑red hue that darkens after a blood meal.. Date latest changes:
How can a house be kept properly flea‑free?
Flea eggs are microscopic, oval, and translucent, measuring about 0.5 mm in length. After a female flea ingests blood, she can lay 20–50 eggs per day, depositing them primarily in the host’s bedding, carpet fibers, and cracks near pet resting areas.. Date latest changes:
Tick on a dog: how to remove it at home?
Piroplasmosis, commonly known as babesiosis, is a tick‑borne disease caused by intracellular protozoa of the genus Babesia . The parasites invade red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia, fever, lethargy, and, in severe cases, organ failure.. Date latest changes:
Why might a dog's skin itch even when there are no fleas?
Environmental allergies, commonly referred to as atopy, represent a primary cause of pruritus in dogs when ectoparasites are absent. Atopic dogs develop hypersensitivity to airborne, topical, or dietary antigens, leading to chronic skin irritation, erythema, and secondary infections.. Date latest changes:
Can bedbugs be found in pillows, and how can they be prevented and treated?
Bed bugs thrive in environments that provide darkness, warmth, and easy access to human blood meals. Their survival depends on locations where they can hide undisturbed, maintain a stable temperature, and reach hosts regularly. Mattress seams and box‑spring interiors Bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture Cracks in walls, baseboards, and floorboards Luggage, backpacks, and travel accessories Fabric‑filled items such as pillows, cushions, and stuffed toys. Date latest changes:
How to use electric tick traps at home?
Electric tick traps operate on a simple principle: luring ticks with a stimulus, then delivering a lethal electric shock. The device consists of three core elements. Attractant system – typically a heat source, carbon dioxide emitter, or pheromone dispenser that mimics a host animal.. Date latest changes:
What do fresh bedbug bites look like?
Fresh bedbug bites typically appear as small, raised spots on the skin. The initial coloration ranges from light pink to reddish‑purple, depending on individual skin tone and the body’s immediate inflammatory response. Swelling is usually mild to moderate.. Date latest changes:
How do lice and fleas differ in appearance?
Adult lice are wingless, dorsoventrally flattened insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies consist of a head, thorax, and abdomen, each covered with fine, translucent scales that give a gray‑to‑brown hue. The head bears a pair of short, filiform antennae and compound eyes positioned laterally.. Date latest changes:
What natural enemies control bed bugs biologically?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm‑blooded hosts. Adults measure 4–5 mm in length, have a flattened oval body, and display a reddish‑brown color after feeding. Nymphs resemble adults but are lighter and undergo five molts before reaching maturity.. Date latest changes:
How to get rid of fleas on a child's head at home?
Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are tiny, wing‑less insects that live exclusively on human scalps. Adult females measure 2–3 mm, are gray‑brown, and cling to hair shafts close to the skin. The life cycle consists of three stages: Egg (nit):. Date latest changes:
What is the fastest and most effective way to treat fleas on a dog at home?
Recognizing a flea infestation early prevents severe discomfort and speeds up home treatment. Observe the dog’s behavior and skin condition for the following indicators: Frequent scratching, biting, or licking of the coat Visible small, dark insects moving through the fur, especially near the neck, tail base, and belly Tiny black specks (flea dirt) on the skin or in the bedding, which turn reddish when moistened Red, inflamed patches or tiny raised bumps (papules) on. Date latest changes:
How to correctly dilute Fitover (Fitoverm) for spider mite control on indoor plants?
Fitoverm is a commercial formulation containing the active ingredient spirotetramat, a systemic insecticide and acaricide. The product is supplied as a liquid concentrate designed for dilution with water before application to foliage. Once absorbed, spirotetramat interferes with lipid biosynthesis, leading to mortality of spider mites and other soft-bodied pests.. Date latest changes:
What are ticks needed for in nature?
Birds act as primary regulators of tick abundance through direct consumption. Species such as nuthatches, chickadees, and certain raptors capture ticks while foraging on vegetation, in leaf litter, or on hosts. This predation reduces tick survival rates and limits the number of individuals that can reach maturity and reproduce.. Date latest changes:
The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) follows a four‑stage development cycle that determines the effectiveness of any topical treatment. Eggs, commonly called nits, are firmly attached to hair shafts near the scalp. An adult female deposits 6‑10 eggs per day for about three weeks.. Date latest changes:
How to check for lice on yourself?
Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are obligate ectoparasites that live on the human scalp. Adult insects measure 2–3 mm in length, have a flattened body, six legs, and a gray‑white to brown coloration that blends with hair. The life cycle includes egg (nit), nymph, and adult stages, each requiring blood meals from the host.. Date latest changes:
What do flea larvae look like on cats?
Fleas progress through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage occurs under specific environmental conditions and contributes to rapid population expansion. The larval phase follows egg hatching. Flea larvae are small, whitish, and C‑shaped, measuring 2–5 mm in length.. Date latest changes:
What are the symptoms of encephalitis transmitted by a tick bite?
Tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection of the central nervous system transmitted primarily by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks. The etiologic agent belongs to the Flaviviridae family and circulates in wildlife reservoirs, especially small mammals, which maintain the virus in endemic regions.. Date latest changes:
What to do when chickens get lice?
Chicken lice are external parasites that feed on feather debris, skin scales, and blood. Two principal groups affect poultry: chewing lice, which consume keratin and skin fragments, and sucking lice, which extract blood. Understanding the specific taxa helps target control measures.. Date latest changes:
Lice are obligate ectoparasites that specialize in distinct habitats on their hosts. Three species affect humans directly: Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) – inhabit scalp hair, lay eggs (nits) attached to hair shafts, spread primarily through direct head‑to‑head contact.. Date latest changes:
What do bedbug bites look like on humans?
Bedbug bites appear as small, raised welts that are typically 1–3 mm in diameter. The central area is often pale or slightly red, surrounded by a darker, inflamed halo that may expand to 5–10 mm. The lesions are usually pruritic and may develop a thin, clear vesicle or a tiny puncture mark at the center.. Date latest changes:
How to treat subcutaneous tick in a dog?
Demodex infestations frequently appear in dogs presenting with subcutaneous swellings, alopecia, or secondary skin infections, conditions that can be confused with tick‑related lesions. Accurate identification of the mite species guides therapeutic choices and prevents unnecessary anti‑tick interventions.. Date latest changes:
How to correctly poison lice with kerosene?
Kerosene applied to the scalp to eradicate lice can cause severe cutaneous reactions. Direct contact with the skin leads to irritation, erythema, and, in many cases, chemical burns. The solvent penetrates the epidermis, disrupting lipid membranes and provoking inflammatory cascades.. Date latest changes:
Is bleach effective against bedbugs?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are hematophagous insects that thrive in human habitats. Adults measure 4–5 mm, are wingless, and possess a flattened dorsal surface that facilitates movement within narrow crevices. The life cycle consists of five nymphal instars and an adult stage.. Date latest changes:
How can furniture be treated for cat fleas?
The egg stage is the first phase of the cat flea life cycle and determines how infestations spread through upholstered items. Female fleas deposit thousands of microscopic eggs on a host, then the eggs fall onto nearby surfaces such as sofas, chairs, and cushions.. Date latest changes:
Fleas achieve remarkable leaps through a specialized elastic protein called resilin, located in the flea’s pleural arch. When the insect contracts its leg muscles, the resilin stores energy like a spring. Rapid release of this stored energy propels the flea upward and forward, generating accelerations up to 100 g and covering distances up to 200 times its body length.. Date latest changes:
How much doxycycline should be taken after a tick bite
Ticks transmit a limited group of bacterial and protozoan pathogens that frequently determine the need for prophylactic or therapeutic doxycycline. Recognizing the specific organism guides the dosage and treatment length. Lyme disease – caused by Borrelia burgdorferi .. Date latest changes:
What are pubic lice and where do they live?
Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis), commonly called crabs, are tiny ectoparasites adapted to coarse body hair. Their bodies are flattened laterally, resembling miniature crab claws, which aid attachment to hair shafts. The thorax bears two prominent, chevron‑shaped, dark‑brown or tan plates that flank a central, lighter‑colored abdomen.. Date latest changes:
How long does a tick feed on a person?
Ticks locate a host through a combination of sensory cues and behavioral strategies. Adult and nymphal stages position themselves on vegetation, extending their forelegs to detect signals that indicate a potential blood source. Carbon dioxide:. Date latest changes:
What should be done after an infected tick bite?
After a tick bite that may have transmitted disease, removing the parasite safely requires specific instruments designed to grasp the mouthparts without crushing the body. Fine‑point tweezers (straight or curved) made of stainless steel;. Date latest changes:
At what temperature do domestic bedbugs die?
Bedbugs progress through egg, five nymphal instars, and adult stages. Each stage displays distinct temperature tolerance: Egg: viable at ambient temperatures; mortality occurs when exposed to ≈ 45 °C (113 °F) for ≥ 30 minutes. First‑through‑fourth instar nymphs:. Date latest changes:
When does the tick season start and end?
Ticks survive winter through physiological mechanisms that define the limits of their activity period. Species such as Ixodes scapularis enter a state of diapause when ambient temperature falls below approximately 5 °C, reducing metabolic demand and halting questing behavior.. Date latest changes:
How to eliminate bedbugs from a sofa at home?
Bed bugs are small, flat insects measuring 4–5 mm in length, roughly the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are oval and wingless, giving them a smooth, pancake‑like silhouette. When unfed, they appear reddish‑brown; after a blood meal, their abdomen expands and turns a deeper, almost black hue.. Date latest changes:
How can basement fleas be eliminated in a private house?
Basement fleas are small, wingless insects (Siphonaptera) that thrive in cool, damp environments typical of unfinished lower levels in homes. They feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds, using powerful hind legs to jump onto passing hosts.. Date latest changes:
How to treat a wound after a tick bite in humans?
Effective removal of a feeding tick requires precise instruments that minimize tissue damage and reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. The practitioner should select tools that allow firm grasping of the tick’s head without crushing its body.. Date latest changes:
Which flea drops are safe for pregnant cats?
Organophosphate flea treatments function by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, leading to accumulation of acetylcholine at nerve synapses. During gestation, the developing fetus is highly sensitive to disruptions in cholinergic signaling, which can result in embryotoxicity, teratogenic effects, and fetal loss.. Date latest changes:
How quickly do bedbugs reproduce and what factors influence this?
The egg stage marks the beginning of the bedbug life cycle and directly determines the speed of population growth. Females deposit eggs in protected crevices, each encased in a protective shell that shields the embryo from desiccation and predators.. Date latest changes:
What to treat tomatoes with for spider mites in a greenhouse?
Tomato plants infested with spider mites display distinct visual cues that signal the need for immediate intervention in a greenhouse setting. The most reliable indicators include: Fine webbing on the undersides of leaves and along stems, often resembling a cottony veil.. Date latest changes:
Is ammonia effective against bedbugs?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus) are small, wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm‑blooded hosts. Adults measure 4–5 mm in length, have a flattened, oval body, and are reddish‑brown after a blood meal. Nymphs resemble adults but are lighter in color and molt five times before reaching maturity.. Date latest changes: