Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_K
What about fleas? I assume they don't "attack" while the target is sleeping.
I did some research on fleas as well while helping my ex-gf out with her bed bug situation (she had a pet so thought it might be fleas).
Fleas are not nocturnal and are opportunistic feeders, feeding alot more than bed bugs if I recall correctly - so yes they wouldn't just attack you while you're sleeping. Also adult fleas are pretty visible, so it would be pretty easy to figure out if you have a flea infestation vs. anything else (also having a pet is pretty good indicator, although fleas, absent any other hosts, will feed on humans and you could have a flea problem with no pets).
However, and where one might get confused between having fleas and bed bugs: w/r/t the bite itself - I believe the bites are similar in that 1) the welt lasts a really long time and is very itchy for a while, several weeks possibly and 2) fleas bite more than once a feeding, and hop from place to place, so it could resemble the "breakfast/lunch/dinner" line pattern of bed bugs.
Also, fleas are attracted to white and could target a human as a host - so they could end up leaving eggs and hanging around your bed and bed sheets (if you've ever had a pet with a flea problem, you know that fleas will congregate around like the dog's bed if it has one) - so you could be getting bit alot in bed if you have fleas and mistakenly think you have bed bugs.
I believe if your house gets infested with fleas it's a pain to get rid of, but I also believe not nearly as difficult as getting rid of bed bugs as fleas are not great hiders, are not nocturnal, and not as hardy.
Edit - just remembered - believe fleas ideal breeding condition is warmer temps, so summer is peak "flea season" in most parts of the country - in LA, despite the warmer weather all year, will see a spike in flea population during summer months. So if it's summer, you have a pet, and getting bit in bed... I'd think fleas first before getting paranoid about bed bugs.
Last edited by SalmanRushdieFTW; 07-30-2011 at 06:22 PM.