What Are Fleas And Ticks?
Fleas and ticks are both external parasitic pests that feed on the blood of both people and animals. Fleas prefer to feed on animals while bed bugs prefer to feed on the blood of humans. Both of these pests are common here in North Carolina. While both of these pests can cause problems, of the two, ticks are a much bigger threat.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny insects that are about the size of a speck of dirt. They have hard, flat bodies that are shiny and dark brownish-red in color. Fleas are wingless, but have powerful back legs that allow them to jump to great heights. Fleas also have specialized spines on their mouth, legs, and back to help them stay attached to their host.
Ticks
Unlike fleas, ticks are not insects. They are arachnids, and are closely related to spiders. Ticks use their specialized mouthparts to grasp the skin of their victim, pierce it, and insert a feeding tube to suck out the blood. Deer ticks are a common species of tick that live in our area. They are small in size, their bodies are reddish-orange, and their legs are dark brown or black in color.
