What is a Sand Flea, Exactly?

Identifying the Sand Flea

It helps to know what the sand flea looks like, so you don’t mistake it for another critter along the shore. First, they don’t even remotely resemble the traditional small, brown flea. They’re larger creatures that can get up to a quarter of an inch in length. They come in a few muted color variations, such as brown, tan, gray, and even hues of green.

It’s challenging to identify them unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, as they are meant to blend into their surroundings. At first glance, you might think it’s a crustation, as they tend to be larger and have that transparent appearance around their outer covering. To make matters even more complicated, this flea variety can camouflage itself for protection. So, they can easily change their colors to match their surroundings.

As with many insects, the females are much larger than the males. However, since they move so fast and you usually only catch them out of the corner of your eye, you’re unlikely to determine the size with just a glance. These insects have five pairs of legs, and their antennae are red, long, and thick. Ironically, one side of the antennae is longer than the other.

Remember that these fleas live along the sea’s edge, so they have gills like fish. These gills allow them to breathe in the water, and they have a hard shell called an exoskeleton, which traditional fleas don’t need. They need this outer shell to protect themselves from the various predators that live around the ocean; without it, they wouldn’t last long.

You would be correct if you think the sand flea sounds more like a lobster or prawn. Entomologists classify them as cousins to these crustaceans. So, they’re more like shrimp than the fleas on your pets in the summer.

Preferred Climate

No beach along the coasts in this country doesn’t have these fleas, and they can even be closer to home. When you install a swimming pool or live near a river, these fleas can also infest the sand in these areas. So, the sand you had hauled in to put around your pool or in your children’s sandbox may be infested.

Sand fleas require water and sand to thrive. They love to hide under the tan grains for protection. They also like disappearing under rocks or vegetation along the shoreline. Though they’re all around you, you may not see these lightning-fast critters.

They can easily bury themselves up to a foot deep in the sand. They like to come out at night when fewer people are on the beach, and the threat of being someone’s dinner is diminished. If you spot rogue seaweed lying on the coast, you will likely see these tiny critters jump into the sand if you pick it up.

Ironically, they tend to hang out at the water’s edge as they’re excellent swimmers. Their tail helps to propel them should a wave overpower them and take them into the water. What happens if you bring one of these pesky critters home after a day at the shore?

Should a flea or two get stuck in your belongings you had at the beach, you shouldn’t worry. They won’t infest your home or carpeting, and they will dry out and die without the constant moisture from the sea. Their body is designed to retain moisture, and without the necessary water to coat their exoskeleton, they will perish.

Another interesting fact about these fleas is that they hibernate or go dormant during the winter months. Since the winters here in the Garden State are cold and snowy, they will stay in the damp parts of the sand right above the tide mark to maintain their safety. However, you won’t see them hopping about until spring rolls around.

Their Life Cycle

Male sand fleas are aggressive about their dating and mating rituals. They will fight to show their strength to other male fleas in the colony to win a female’s heart. Another ironic fact is the male flea keeps harems, as these insects are amorous.

Sadly, many times, it’s a waste of effort because if the tide retreats and changes the water, their living environment shifts. The constant alteration of the water makes it impossible to know from one day to the next if their entire harem will disappear with the ocean’s waves.

Once a male mates with a female, she can lay eggs. The female has a pouch much like a kangaroo on their underbelly. She lays her eggs in this pouch and waits for them to mature. It takes them 1-3 weeks to hatch, but it can be different depending on the weather outside. Humid weather allows them to hatch quicker than when the temperatures are colder.

The young sand flea looks just like the adult version; the only difference is that their size is much smaller, and their bodies are translucent. The lifespan of this flea is up to two years, but the average flea will make it for 12 months.

Diet

Since abundant plant and animal decaying matter is readily available near the ocean, sand fleas primarily feast on these things. However, they won’t refuse some leftover food from beachgoers either, as they love junk food.

A leftover sandwich tangled in some seaweed is a buffet for them, but the only caveat is they must get it before one of the larger birds steals it. Since they live just above the high tide line, their little caves are great places to quickly grab some plant matter or decaying fish.

Sand Flea Predators

Since the sand flea is so tiny, you can only imagine they’re an excellent dinner for a hungry seagull or a sandpiper. These fleas are an essential food source for fish and crabs along the shore’s edge.

While this is not popular in America, sand fleas are considered a delicacy in other countries, such as Indonesia. They’re often fried or steamed like shrimp with a wide variety of spices, though they try to eat only the largest of the species.

Does the Sand Flea Bite?

When you hear the word flea, you automatically assume it bites animals and humans alike. While sand fleas jump like the other varieties, it’s only natural to think any itchy bites or stings along the ocean’s edge come from them. The truth is that they’re not interested in your blood like the cat flea.

If you get stung at the beach while sitting in the sand, it’s more likely to come from a gnat, sandfly, or a midge than a flea. Other fleas live in the sand, specifically in the southern countries in the Caribbean. These fleas are called the jigger or the chigoe, and they love to bore into human feet. However, you won’t encounter these fleas on the New Jersey beaches, as they’re more common in Central and South America.

So, the good news is that the sand fleas won’t infest your dog or cat, they won’t bite you, and they won’t lay eggs on your pets either. There’s no chance of having an infestation and needing pest control professionals like you would with other flea varieties.

Interesting Sand Flea Facts

• They’re often confused with sea fleas or lice but are not alike.
• They’re not known to bite as their mouth isn’t equipped for such actions.
• They have tiny claws that help them navigate and forage for food.
• Though you can’t see them, one square yard of sand can have up to 10,000 sand fleas.
• They help clean the beaches by nibbling on dead seaweed and kelp along the shores.
• Heavy metal presence in the water or other toxins can wipe them out by destroying their exoskeleton.

The Need for Pest Control With Fleas

While you may not need pest control with sand fleas, spring is approaching, and the dog and cat fleas will be hopping about. If you have pets, live near the water or woods, or are prone to these hopping pests, it’s best to have a pest control company that can help you keep things under control. Are you ready for this year’s flea and tick season?

More comparison articles:

Boxelder bugs VS Stink bugs
Mice and rats: What’s the difference?
House Mice and Deer Mice: What’s the difference?
Termites and flying ants: What’s the difference?
Carpenter bees and bumble bees: What’s the difference?

To learn more:

Our service area
Our carpenter bee control services
Our wasp control services
Our hornet control services
Our yellow jacket control services
Six Common Ticks Found in And Around New Jersey