Comparison of Flea and Tick Life Cycles

• Ticks and fleas feed on the blood of mammals.fawn in woods image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  Fleas and ticks both require mammalian blood to develop eggs. Ticks often require more than one host--sometimes as many as three--after they have hatched from eggs and develop through the stages of larva, nymph and adult.
  
  Fleas have a simpler pattern of development from egg to larva and through pupa to adult; generally only adult fleas need blood for food as they produce their eggs. As they mature, flea larvae feed on organic matter such as shed skin cells or feces found near the living area of their hosts. Ticks only feed on blood. Flea life cycles usually take three to four weeks to complete. Ticks typically live for about two years.
  
  

Different Habitat Preferences

• Both ticks and fleas can be found where rodents, like rabbits, live.rabbit image by Han van Vonno from Fotolia.com
  
  Fleas and ticks can be found in similar places but have different needs from their habitats. Because they feed on organic material like shed skin cells and feces, flea larvae tend to develop near areas where animals sleep or spend lots of time.
  
  Ticks wander further and wait on grasses or bushes until a potential host brushes by. Tick larvae stay closer to the ground, but since, unlike fleas, they feed exclusively on blood, they can be found wherever mammals, especially rodents, range. Fleas prefer sand or gravel and ticks stay near vegetation. Both prefer environments that are fairly humid although fleas can survive in drier climates than ticks.
  
  

How Ticks and Fleas can Spread Disease

• Ticks and fleas can carry germs from one host to another.bacteria image by chrisharvey from Fotolia.com
  
  Because fleas and ticks generally feed off of more than one host, they can carry whatever microorganism one mammal may have to another. Ticks are larger than fleas and take more of their host's blood with them, so they tend to be a somewhat higher risk as a disease carrier. Ticks are known to carry the germs for Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and relapsing fever, among other sicknesses. Fleas also carry illness, most commonly tapeworm infection. Severe rodent flea infestation can lead to the transmittal of pneumonic or bubonic plague. While the plague has claimed many human lives in history, it is currently rare that people are infected with it due to modern sanitation practices.
  
  

Avoiding Being Bitten

• Spray-on insect repellent is recommended to prevent tick and flea bites.ANTI-MOSQUITO AND ANTI-BUG SPRAY. OPEN AND CLOSE. image by Maxim_Kazmin from Fotolia.com
  
  Only a few fleas and ticks carry disease-causing germs; as long as repeated exposure over a long term to their bites is avoided, the risk of catching a disease from these parasites is fairly low.
  
  There are some regions in the U.S. where the risk is higher and in these places extra precaution is advised. For instance. incidence of tick-borne Lyme disease is of particular concern in the northeastern states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has published a map that locates such areas. (See Resources)
  
  When hiking or participating in outdoor activities it is always advisable to take measures such as using a reliable insect repellent, wearing proper clothing and inspecting for ticks twice per day. Flea bites can be prevented by keeping pets free of fleas and vacuuming regularly. Accidental ingestion of fleas is to be avoided since this is how fleas can transmit tapeworms to humans. Precautionary guidelines may be found on the CDC website.
  
  

Enjoying Pets and Outdoor Activities

• Exposure to fleas and ticks in many outdoor settings is minimal.picnic at the lake image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  Fleas and ticks are at the least annoying and at worst repugnant and potentially dangerous. However, exposure to them can be avoided with reasonable measures.
  
  Pets can be protected with such simple practices as frequent combing, household vacuuming and inspection combined with occasional use of repellent products. The Maryland Veterinary Medical Association provides detailed instructions for keeping your pet free of parasites. Outdoor activities like hiking and camping can be enjoyed with a few pragmatic precautions. Ticks and fleas should not ruin a picnic in the company of a pet.