The biggest threat to humans from fleas are flea-born diseases. These tiny creatures are capable of spreading some nasty bugs around as well as causing anemia and other blood-related diseases. The human flea is one flea that mankind commonly comes into contact with all over the world.

Adult fleas have three pairs of legs for jumping. They can grow to be 2mm long and are reddish brown in color. They are a wingless insect, but they make that up by being able to jump great distances, and they can run away equally fast. Their primary objective is to to suck blood from the host animal and drive the host crazy.

Although called the human flea, this flea is more than likely to take up residence in a larger mammal than a human. The reason, the human flea needs cover in order to survive, and what better place to hide than in the hair of the dog so the flea can feed. One of the reasons that humans come in contact with the human flea is the close proximity to animals that many humans enjoy. The human flea prefers to be on the family pet, especially if the pet is a carnivore.

The human flea is a carrier of a the common tapeworm. This parsite commonly attacks pets, humans would have to actually digest the flea in order to become infected, so at greatest risk would be small children who aren't well-versed on proper hygiene.

Human fleas can also zap the life-force out of small kittens by depleting their blood supply to the point of anemia. It is crucial if you find a flea- ridden kitten to get that kitten to a vet quickly.

Human fleas have four distinct life stages, the egg, the larvae, the cocoon and the adult. The human flea can live up to 6 months in an ideal setting, but there are ways available to shorten that time span.

The eggs are hardly visible to the naked eye and once they are laid they drop off the host animal and hatch wherever they fall. The larvae when they emerge 10 days later, look like a small brownish worm. You can sometimes see them crawling on your animal and then you know, you have had an infestation and you need to move quickly.

If you want to be sure that you have fleas, simply put your pet on a white sheet of paper, and begin to comb out your animal. Small brownish black specks should be seen on the paper below. If you squash these specks, or if you drop them in water, the water should turn red.

Pest Control Tips for Dealing with the Human Flea-

When it comes to the human flea or any other type of flea, prevention is key. Safely flea-treating your pet with flea treatment from your vet's office is the best way to go. Most over-the-counter flea treatments do not work effectively, and some, if the label instructions are not followed can do great harm.

Monitor your pet by daily grooming. This is the best way to find out if your pet has fleas, and the pet enjoys the attention. Keep a flea comb on hand and run it through your pet, on the flanks, the belly and the chest and neck.

Walk through your home with knee-high white socks. Fleas will feel you coming (they have very poor eyesight) and if they are in your carpet, they will jump for your legs. If you have brown and black specs on your new socks, you have fleas.

There are so many products on the market that claim to get rid of fleas. We are only going to concentrate on what works to repel fleas. Notice,we said repel, not kill.

Diacotomus Earth Crystals- sprinkle this dust into your carpet and lay a line along the outside your home near your foundation. Vacuum your rugs first then lay down the dust. Use a broom to sweep it down into the nape of the carpet.

Buy a flea collar and cut it up in small pieces. Put a small segment of it in your vacuum bag before you vacuum it will kill all fleas sucked into the machine. Do not use flea collars on your pets. The toxins are to concentrated in one area and can cause problems.

Nemotodes- nemotodes are tiny, worm-like organisms that live in soil and dirt and can search and destroy fleas outside. You need to do repeated applications of these nemotodes, because they only live about 2 months at best.

Flea traps with lights- these are simple devices that are quite effective. Plug them into an outlet at night and in the morning shake out all the fleas lurking there. This is only good to kill the adult fleas. It does not kill the eggs, larvae or cocoons.

Steam clean your rugs and sofa cushions at least once a month.

If the infestation is bad, then contact your veterinarian about the proper type of flea bomb to use. Most vet clinics carry specific products targeted just for fleas. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully prior to use as well as afterward.