What do fleas look like in human hair? - briefly
Fleas found in human hair are minute, dark‑colored, wingless insects about 1–3 mm long, with a laterally flattened body and powerful hind legs for jumping. They appear as tiny specks that move rapidly among the hair shafts.
What do fleas look like in human hair? - in detail
Fleas that infest a person’s scalp appear as tiny, laterally flattened insects, typically measuring 1.5–3 mm in length. Their bodies are dark brown to reddish‑black, with a hard exoskeleton that gives a glossy sheen. The head is small, positioned close to the thorax, and the antennae are short and not easily seen without magnification. Six long legs extend from the thorax; each leg ends in a pair of tiny claws that allow the flea to grasp hair shafts securely.
Key visual characteristics:
- Body shape: Oval, dorsoventrally compressed, enabling movement through hair layers.
- Coloration: Uniform dark brown to black; occasional lighter bands on the abdomen in some species.
- Legs and claws: Long, slender legs with hooked claws; the hind legs are especially adapted for jumping.
- Movement: Rapid, erratic hopping; fleas can leap up to 150 mm horizontally, which creates a noticeable “jumping” sensation on the scalp.
- Eggs and larvae: Eggs are white, oval, and 0.5 mm long, often attached to hair near the scalp. Larvae are small, worm‑like, pale, and lack legs; they hide in debris rather than on hair.
When examined with a magnifying lens, the flea’s segmented abdomen reveals distinct rows of bristles (setae) that run laterally. The eyes are small and positioned on the sides of the head, and the mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood; they appear as a short proboscis protruding from the front of the head.
Differentiation from head lice:
- Fleas are larger and darker, with a harder, more rounded body.
- Fleas have powerful jumping legs; lice only crawl.
- Flea abdomen shows visible segmentation; lice abdomen appears smoother.
Recognition of these traits enables accurate identification of flea infestations within human hair.