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Sand Fleas

Cat and dog fleas are commonly mistaken for sand fleas. However, sand fleas are present in sandy areas such as beaches and marshes and are crustaceans, not insects. Sand fleas have transparent wings with black and gray spots. American sand fleas have longer antennae than other species of sand fleas. Sand fleas can be as small as a grain of rice, although they may grow to be four times that size.

Although sand fleas can prove deadly to their marine prey, they do not live within human homes and will not infest pets. Humans rarely receive bites from sand fleas. If you or your pets are exhibiting symptoms of flea bites, your home is probably infested with cat or dog fleas. Contact your veterinarian for treatment options and call a pest control professional to discuss extermination methods.

Chigoe is a type of sand flea also known as Tunga penetrans. Tungiasis is the skin disorder caused by these sand fleas. Reports of individuals in North America are from tourists to other areas of the world. The adults burrow into the host's skin. Usually the feet. The flea needs to be removed and the cavity cleaned and treated topically

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