What’s the Difference Between Tick vs Flea?

What are the similarities and differences between these two tiny pests? We break it down with the help of two bug experts.

Pet owners are especially worried about fleas and ticks around their homes.

Despite feeding on animals’ blood, transmitting diseases and often causing painful allergic reactions, fleas (photo on left, above) and ticks (photo on right) are completely different.

Animals such as raccoons and rodents (as well as dogs and cats) are infected by fleas, which feed on blood. Their lifespan is determined by the host they are attached to, and they reproduce quickly.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s extension specialist, Katelyn A. Kesheimer, Ph.D., says fleas are excellent jumpers. Despite their large back legs, they are capable of jumping more than six inches. That’s a huge leap for a small insect!

There is a slight difference in size between ticks and fleas, but ticks are still small and hard to see. Their eight legs attach to their prey, burying their heads into the skin after biting. They belong to the arachnid family (such as spiders and mites). Ticks, unlike fleas, are nocturnal and move from host to host as they please.

Knowing the symptoms of these blood-sucking creatures will allow you to take action if you discover one on your pet.

What Do Fleas and Ticks Look Like?

While fleas and ticks are both small, their physical characteristics are quite different. Which one is which? Here’s how you can tell.

What fleas look like

A flea’s body is usually flat, wingless, and their mouthparts look like needles. Typically, fleas range from dark reddish brown to black in colour. Itchy and swollen skin is caused by their bites. Approximately 1/8-inch long is the size of an adult flea. The creature is long and has three pairs of legs. You can check if your pet has fleas in a few different ways.

Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., of the National Pest Management Association, has worked for nearly 20 years in entomology and wildlife ecology. He says fleas move so fast along the animal’s body that they can be hard to spot. In order to conduct a visual inspection, he recommends using a flea comb and wetting the animal’s hair.

What ticks look like

In North America, there are more than 100 tick species, including blacklegged/deer, American dog, brown dog, lone star and Rocky Mountain wood ticks. A blacklegged/deer tick, an American dog tick, a brown dog tick, a lone star and a Rocky Mountain wood tick are the most commonly found types in North America.

It is possible to find ticks as small as 1/8 in. As much as 1/2 inch (the size of a sesame seed). When engorged with blood, they become round instead of flat. There are four pairs of legs on tick nymphs and adults, but only three pairs on tick larvae.

What did you know? More than half of Americans have discovered or removed ticks from themselves, others, or pets in the past year.

Where Do Fleas and Ticks Live?

Fleas

Kesheimer says pets (or other animals) are almost always to blame for indoor flea infestations. In the yard, fleas may live for some time. The moment they discover that they can ride into the house, they will abandon the outdoor life for the comfort of the house.

Fleas love hairy dogs or furry cats and can spend their entire lives on them, happily reproducing and feeding. A worm-like larvae hatch from the eggs and infest carpets and furniture once the eggs fall off the animal. In addition to jumping back on their hosts as adult fleas, they feed on their hosts until they emerge as adults.

Are you aware of this? In the course of their lifetime, fleas can produce as many as 400 to 500 eggs.

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Ticks

They prefer tall grass, scrubs, and wooded areas to hide in, and they thrive in warm, humid climates. The species can also be found in urban centers and coastal regions, not just in forested or rural areas.

According to Fredericks, ticks typically work their way up low-growing vegetation and wait for their hosts to brush the foliage by. You should keep in mind that ticks can be extremely patient, sometimes waiting weeks or months for their next host.

Here’s a handy tick locator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help you find out what types of ticks live where in your area.

Signs of Fleas vs. Ticks

Find out if you have fleas or ticks by following these steps.

Signs of Fleas

An infected or irritated spot on the pet is scratched;
Loss of hair or fur;
Pet beds, carpets, and linens may have tiny black marks (flea feces).

The feet and lower legs may be covered with itchy, red bites in humans. A flea can easily jump from a dog to a human leg on this jump, says Kesheimer.

Signs of Ticks

A tick bite could be indicated by the following symptoms:

When you or your pet notice a tick on their body;
A potted plant or other garden item contains ticks or their eggs;
If your pet (or you) is feeling lethargic, has muscle weakness, loses appetite, or struggles to breathe, it may be time to seek medical attention.

Health Risks of Fleas vs. Ticks

Does your home have fleas and ticks? Is there a health risk associated with them?

“Not really,” says Kesheimer of common fleas.

It’s rare for flea bites to transmit diseases, but they can be itchy and irritating. Occasionally, fleas transmit tapeworms, but they are rarely serious and don’t generally cause health problems.

There is another side to ticks.

As far as vector-borne diseases are concerned in the U.S., Kesheimer claims ticks are responsible for the majority of them. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease are the most common.

When you suspect you’ve been bitten by a tick, don’t feel well, or are experiencing strange symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Tick-borne diseases can easily go undiagnosed and cause long-term effects. Ticks come in a variety of species, and each species poses a different health threat.

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The majority of tick-borne diseases can be treated with antibiotics.

How To Get Rid of Fleas vs. Ticks

Kesheimer says the situation is complex. When there is an infestation, you’ll likely notice tiny black specs jumping all over. Because fleas are so tiny, you may not see them until there are a lot of them.

In order to completely eliminate fleas, you should:

When treating your home, also treat your pets;
Maintain a clean carpet, floor, and upholstery;
Hot water should be used for washing bed linens, collars, and plush toys;
The perimeter of your home should be sealed to prevent fleas from catching rides on rodents.
Flea larvae can be found inside, and insecticides can be sprayed inside, or natural remedies can be used.

To reduce ticks, follow these steps: