What do fleas look like on a person's hair? - briefly
Fleas are tiny, dark brown to reddish insects about 1–3 mm long with a laterally flattened body and powerful hind legs for jumping. In a person's hair they move rapidly, cling near the scalp, and can be mistaken for small specks of debris.
What do fleas look like on a person's hair? - in detail
Fleas that infest human scalp are small, wing‑less insects measuring 1.5–3 mm in length. Their bodies are laterally flattened, which enables them to move through hair shafts. The exoskeleton is dark brown to reddish‑black, giving the insects a glossy appearance under light. Each flea possesses six jointed legs; the hind legs end in strong, spiny claws that grip individual hairs, allowing rapid jumps of up to 150 mm.
The head is proportionally large, equipped with compound eyes and short, serrated mouthparts designed for piercing skin and sucking blood. Antennae are short, tucked beneath the head, and not easily visible without magnification. The abdomen is segmented and expands after a blood meal, often appearing engorged and more rounded.
When observed in a person's hair, fleas may be seen as tiny moving specks that dart quickly between strands. They tend to congregate near the scalp where warmth and blood flow are greatest. Their movement is erratic; they can disappear into the hair matrix and reappear elsewhere within seconds. Under a magnifying lens, the following characteristics become evident:
- Dark, shiny exoskeleton
- Flattened body shape
- Six legs with hooked hind claws
- Small, concealed antennae
- Enlarged abdomen after feeding
Adult fleas are capable of surviving off the host for several days, but they require a blood source to reproduce. Their presence in hair often coincides with itching, redness, or small bite marks at the base of the scalp. Prompt identification and removal are essential to prevent infestation from spreading to other body areas or to other hosts.