1. Try your best to avoid the beach after it has rained. The wet, cool conditions make the sand fleas become more active, so it’s best if you wait for the weather to get warmer before heading out to the beach.
2. Don’t go to the beach at dawn, that’s when the fleas are looking to feed. Wait til the mid-morning or afternoon to go to the beach.
3. Give yourself a good spraying of insect repellant before heading out to the beach. make sure the repellant contains ingredients like Deet or it might not work on the sand fleas.
4. make sure to put something in between the sand and yourself like a towel or sit in a chair. if you do sit on the bare sand, make sure your lower back and legs are covered, because these are the most accessible areas for fleas to bite when sitting down in the sand.
What are sand fleas?
Sand fleas are blood suckers like most parasites and are mostly found in tropical areas, but they are also common in all places with beach coasts. They feed on blood but they also feed on ocean weeds like seaweeds, kelp and all kinds of rotting plants. not only do they attach themselves to sea creatures, they also feed on people and they leave a nasty looking bite.
Sand flea bite treatment
Similar to regular flea bites, sand flea bites can be very itchy and irritating. To reduce inflammation use an ice pack, then apply hydro-cortisone or calamine lotion to cut the itching down. If the itching becomes too overwhelming you talk to your doctor about taking an antihistamine. Note: you should not scratch the sand flea bites, because that could lead to open wounds and ultimately infections. If you feel signs of a severe allergic reaction like hives, shortness of breath or tightening of the chest please go to the Emergency room immediately.
Sand Flea Facts
- they are also known as sand crabs.
- they are not insects
- they are known to burrow into people’s skin after they bite
- Unlike regular fleas, sand fleas consume the flesh of it’s host
- they are sand colored and have transparent wings with black spots
- A sand flea bite is known to be more painful than a mosquito bite
- Sand fleas are capable of spreading diseases
- juvenile sand fleas are black, brown or gray colored
- Sand fleas are only active when the weather is warm
- The disease they are most likely to transmit is malaria
- In some occasions sand flea bites may cause a fever
- Sand fleas are not like regular fleas, they are a crablike animal but the bite feel a lot like a flea bite.
- sand fleas are also known as sand fly’s, mole crabs and sand crabs
- They can be used as bait
- Can also be used as fishing bait.
- According to Orkin pest control sand fleas are not harmful
- They do not and cannot live in humans homes, they can only survive on sandy near the beach areas
- They are mistaken for chigoes
Sand Flea Pictures
