List of articles № 20
How can you distinguish a wild bedbug from a domestic one?
Bed bugs belong to several closely related species, each adapted to specific hosts and environments. Recognizing the principal types clarifies how a specimen from the outdoors differs from one that thrives in human dwellings. Cimex lectularius – the common domestic bed bug;. Date latest changes:
Where do fleas come from in domestic environments?
Flea reproduction begins with the egg stage, which directly links outdoor infestations to indoor environments. Female fleas lay 20‑50 eggs on the host animal; most eggs fall off during grooming or movement and accumulate in the animal’s bedding, carpets, and cracks in flooring.. Date latest changes:
What does a tick's head look like embedded in human skin?
The capitulum, commonly referred to as the tick’s head, consists of several distinct anatomical components that become visible when the parasite is anchored in human skin. The most prominent element is the hypostome, a tapered, barbed structure that penetrates the dermis and secures the tick while feeding.. Date latest changes:
How can bedbugs affect human health?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, wing‑less insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm‑blooded hosts. Adults measure 4–5 mm in length, have a flattened oval shape, and are reddish‑brown after a recent meal. Their life cycle includes egg, five nymphal stages, and adult, each stage requiring a blood feed to progress.. Date latest changes:
When is tick activity at its lowest?
Ticks are ectoparasites whose questing behavior is tightly linked to ambient climate. Activity declines sharply when environmental parameters fall outside the range required for metabolism, host‑seeking, and survival. Key climatic conditions that produce the lowest tick activity:. Date latest changes:
How should you properly remove a tick's head from a dog?
Removing a tick’s mouthparts from a dog without leaving fragments is critical because retained tissue can introduce bacterial, viral, or protozoan pathogens. The broken head creates a direct portal for microbes that normally reside in the tick’s salivary glands or gut.. Date latest changes:
What should I use to wash a cat for fleas at home?
Topical flea products are frequently chosen for home cat baths because they deliver rapid, localized action without requiring ingestion. The medication spreads across the skin, reaching the parasite’s life stages where they feed. This method reduces the risk of gastrointestinal side effects that oral drugs can cause, especially in cats sensitive to certain ingredients.. Date latest changes:
How does the skin look after a tick bite in humans?
A tick bite produces an abrupt cutaneous reaction that can be recognized within minutes to a few hours. The entry point appears as a small, often punctate lesion where the mouthparts remain embedded. Surrounding the punctum, the skin commonly exhibits:. Date latest changes:
How long does a flea treatment work on cats?
Topical flea treatments, commonly called spot‑ons, are applied directly to a cat’s skin at the base of the neck. Active ingredients such as fipronil, imidacloprid, selamectin or fluralaner spread across the skin surface, providing systemic protection that kills fleas after contact.. Date latest changes:
How can I get rid of a tick on a cat?
Ticks attached to cats serve as vectors for several pathogenic agents. The most frequently encountered tick‑borne illnesses in felines include: Bartonella henselae – causes fever, lymphadenopathy, and occasional hepatic involvement. Anaplasma phagocytophilum – produces lethargy, fever, and thrombocytopenia.. Date latest changes:
Lice complete their development in three distinct stages, each dependent on a human host for nourishment and reproduction. Egg (nit): Oval, translucent, firmly attached to hair shafts or fabric fibers near the scalp. Incubation lasts 7–10 days at ambient temperatures of 30 °C (86 °F).. Date latest changes:
What should be done after a tick bite infected with Borrelia?
Effective management of a Borrelia‑positive tick bite relies on specific instruments and established procedures. Immediate removal of the attached arthropod should be performed with fine‑point tweezers or a dedicated tick‑extraction device, grasping the mouthparts as close to the skin as possible and pulling steadily upward to avoid rupture.. Date latest changes:
Why do fleas appear in an apartment and how can they be eradicated?
Fleas are diminutive, wingless insects that live externally on warm‑blooded hosts. Adults measure 1–4 mm, possess laterally compressed bodies, and can leap up to 150 times their own length, enabling rapid movement between hosts and indoor surfaces.. Date latest changes:
Drops or tablets: which is better for fleas and ticks on dogs?
Fleas and ticks transmit a range of pathogens that can cause serious disease in dogs. Bacterial infections such as Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia spp. may lead to fever, lethargy, and organ inflammation. Protozoan parasites, notably Babesia caninum, produce hemolytic anemia, jaundice, and renal failure.. Date latest changes:
Which antibiotic should adults use for prophylaxis after a tick bite?
Lyme disease, transmitted by Ixodes ticks, can be prevented in adults by a single‑dose antibiotic regimen when the tick has been attached for ≥36 hours in an endemic area. The drug of choice is doxycycline, 200 mg taken orally as a single dose within 72 hours of tick removal.. Date latest changes:
How to get rid of flea bites: effective home remedies?
Flea bites typically appear as small, raised welts ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter. The center often remains pale while the surrounding rim turns reddish, creating a distinct halo. Bites are frequently grouped in clusters of three or more, reflecting the insect’s feeding pattern as it moves across the skin.. Date latest changes:
What complications can arise after a human tick bite?
Redness and swelling are the most immediate signs that a tick has attached to the skin. The reaction results from the body’s inflammatory response to tick saliva, which contains anticoagulants, anesthetics, and proteins that can trigger local irritation.. Date latest changes:
What does a spider mite look like on greenhouse cucumbers and how should it be treated?
Spider mites that infest cucumber plants in controlled environments are typically microscopic, ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm in length. Their bodies are oval, flattened, and consist of eight legs that are barely visible without magnification.. Date latest changes:
How can you treat furniture for bedbugs?
Detecting infestations is the first step before any intervention on upholstered pieces. Bed‑bug evidence appears as tiny dark specks and translucent exoskeleton remnants. Fecal spots are approximately the size of a pinhead, darkened by blood digestion.. Date latest changes:
Soil fleas, commonly known as springtails, are minute hexapods that inhabit the upper layers of soil, leaf litter, and moss. Their external morphology distinguishes them from true insects and provides clues for identification and control. Length:. Date latest changes:
How to get rid of fleas on a kitten?
Visual confirmation of flea presence is the first step in eradicating an infestation from a young cat. Adult fleas appear as small, dark, mobile insects about the size of a grain of sand. They move quickly through the fur, especially along the neck, tail base, and underbelly.. Date latest changes:
Where to test a tick for encephalitis?
Identifying potential risks is essential before deciding where to submit a tick for encephalitis testing. Risk assessment should focus on environmental, epidemiological, and procedural factors that influence the reliability of results and the safety of personnel.. Date latest changes:
Why do bedbugs appear in apartments?
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, wingless insects measuring 4–5 mm in length when unfed and up to 7 mm after a blood meal. Their oval, flattened bodies facilitate movement through narrow crevices and seams in furniture, enabling them to infiltrate residential units with ease.. Date latest changes:
Fleas are small, wing‑less insects belonging to the order Siphonaptera. Adult fleas measure 1–4 mm, are laterally compressed, and possess powerful hind legs that enable rapid jumps up to 150 times their body length. Their bodies are covered with a hard exoskeleton that resists water and most topical chemicals.. Date latest changes:
Can cat lice be transmitted to humans?
Cat lice infestations involve several distinct species, each adapted to specific hosts and ecological niches. Understanding these species clarifies the likelihood of cross‑species transfer to people. Felicola subrostratus (cat head louse) – occupies the scalp and facial region of felines.. Date latest changes:
Used furniture and mattresses frequently serve as vectors for bedbug introduction because they often harbor hidden insects and eggs. When a second‑hand item is sourced from an environment with an existing infestation, adult bugs, nymphs, or eggs can remain concealed in seams, folds, and internal layers.. Date latest changes:
How to remove lice from a person's head?
The head‑lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) progresses through three distinct stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs, commonly called nits, are firmly attached to hair shafts near the scalp and hatch in 7–10 days. Emerging nymphs resemble miniature adults but lack reproductive capacity;. Date latest changes:
Understanding the flea life cycle is essential for effective flea control in cats. The cycle comprises four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage occurs under specific environmental conditions and timeframes, creating opportunities for intervention.. Date latest changes:
Which tests to take after a tick bite?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by Ixodes ticks, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and, less frequently, related species. Early infection may present with erythema migrans, fever, fatigue, headache, and arthralgia; later stages can involve neurologic, cardiac, or musculoskeletal complications.. Date latest changes:
How can you quickly get rid of pubic lice?
Pubic lice, also known as Pthirus pubis , are tiny, wingless parasites that inhabit the coarse hair of the genital region, though they may also be found on abdominal, anal, and facial hair. Adult insects measure about 1–2 mm, have a crab‑like appearance, and cling to hair shafts with specially adapted claws.. Date latest changes:
What are effective products for treating bedbugs?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, oval‑shaped insects measuring 4–5 mm in length when fully engorged and 2–3 mm when unfed. Their bodies are flat dorsally and become markedly swollen after feeding, resembling a reddish‑brown apple seed.. Date latest changes:
How can you eliminate bedbugs at home?
Bed‑bug bites typically appear as small, raised welts that may be red or pink. The lesions often develop within a few hours after the insect feeds, though some individuals react later, producing a delayed swelling. Key characteristics of the bites include:. Date latest changes:
Fleas are small, wingless insects of the order Siphonaptera, characterized by laterally compressed bodies, strong hind legs for jumping, and piercing‑sucking mouthparts adapted to feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Adult fleas emerge from pupae as wingless, dark‑colored insects roughly 1–4 mm in length;. Date latest changes:
How to treat cucumbers for spider mite control?
Spider mite damage on cucumber plants appears as a distinct pattern of discoloration and tissue loss. The earliest indication is a stippled, pale‑green or yellow mottling on the upper leaf surface, caused by the mites feeding on cell contents.. Date latest changes:
What symptoms occur after a bedbug bite?
A bedbug bite typically produces a rapid set of sensory responses at the contact site. Within minutes the skin may feel a faint prick or pin‑point pressure where the insect pierced the surface. A mild, localized pain often follows, described as a sharp, fleeting sting that subsides quickly.. Date latest changes:
What fever can result from a tick bite?
The incubation period is the interval between attachment of an infected tick and the appearance of fever. It varies among pathogens transmitted by ticks and determines the timing of clinical suspicion after exposure. Typical incubation periods for common tick‑borne febrile illnesses are:. Date latest changes:
What should you do after a tick bite for prevention?
After a tick attaches, removing it promptly reduces the risk of pathogen transmission. The removal instrument must grip the tick’s head without compressing its body. Fine‑tipped, stainless‑steel tweezers: provide precise control, allow grasping close to the skin, and minimize crushing.. Date latest changes:
How quickly can I eliminate flea infestations in the house?
Fleas leave unmistakable evidence that signals a developing infestation. Early detection prevents widespread colonization and reduces treatment time. Small, dark specks on bedding, carpets, or pet fur; these are flea feces, also known as “flea dirt.. Date latest changes:
What to do about a bump after a tick bite in humans?
Localized redness and swelling after a tick bite usually indicate a mild inflammatory reaction. The skin around the attachment site becomes erythematous, firm, and may feel warm to the touch. This response often resolves within a few days as the body clears the irritant.. Date latest changes:
How do you treat a carpet for fleas at home?
Fleas leave distinct evidence on carpeted surfaces that can be identified without specialized equipment. Adult fleas are small, dark, and move quickly; they may be seen crawling across the pile when the area is disturbed. Their jumping ability creates tiny, scattered clusters of insects that appear after a pet has rested on the rug.. Date latest changes: