Sand fleas are notorious for turning your fun beach days into itchy nightmares. These pesky little creatures can bite humans and pets leaving behind reddish bumps and a lot of skin irritation.
Though the bites from these creatures are not necessarily dangerous, the overall discomfort can be unbearable. This is why to make sure your beach day doesn’t lead to skin troubles afterward you need to equip yourself with the right hacks. This can help you keep sand fleas at bay and ensure better pest control.
If you are planning a fun beach day with your friends or family but are afraid of the sand fleas then this article is all you need. In this blog, you will find several effective hacks that can keep you safe from sand fleas while on the beach so keep on reading till the end.
- What are Sand Fleas?
- Effective Beach Hacks to Keep Sand Fleas Away
- Don’t Go to the Beach at Dusk or Dawn
- Use DEET Repellents
- Plant Oils
- Avoid Beach After Rain
- Bring a Barrier
- Keep Anti-Itch Cream with You
- Use Baby Oil
What are Sand Fleas?
Before we look into some useful hacks, let’s first talk about what sand fleas actually are. Despite what the name says, sand fleas are not your regular fleas. These are actually crustaceans like lobsters or shrimp.
You find sand fleas mostly in coastal areas where they can hide under the sand. Sand fleas are about 1 or 1/2 inches in length and they have a sandy to dark brown color.
You can identify these creatures by their barrel-shaped bodies with five pairs of legs, two antennae, and two appendages protruding from their back.
Unlike normal fleas that feed on human blood, sand fleas eat decayed plant or animal matter which makes them less harmful for humans or pets.
However, the bites from some rare sand flea species can lead to skin issues and infections like tungiasis. This is why you need to take every sand flea control measure possible to stay on the safe side.
Effective Beach Hacks to Keep Sand Fleas Away
Following are some of the best beach hacks that you can use to keep sand fleas away
- Don’t Go to the Beach at Dusk or Dawn
Sand fleas are the most active during dusk or dawn when the temperatures drop a little. Thus to avoid getting affected by these, it is better to plan your trip during the middle of the day. As soon as the sun starts to go down, it is better to pack your stuff and head home. This way you can have a fun beach day from the start till the end.
- Use DEET Repellents
One effective hack is to keep a DEET-based spray or lotion by your side when you visit the beach. These repellents are extremely effective for keeping sand fleas away. Make sure to use these on your exposed skin before stepping onto the beach to prevent the bites.
- Plant Oils
You can also mix your regular bug spray with natural plant oils like Citronella, lemongrass, and lemon eucalyptus oil to make organic sand flea repellents. This combination will help in your sand flea pest control efforts without any side effects that you might get from chemical-based repellents.
- Avoid Beach After Rain
Sand fleas tend to come out in large numbers after rain. This is an ideal environment for these creatures where they can hunt for hosts. This is why you need to stay away from the beach as much as possible for a few hours after the rain. This can help you avoid sand flea bites and the consequent itchiness that lasts for days.
- Bring a Barrier
To further ensure safety, it is better to create a barrier between yourself and the sand where the sand fleas hide. One effective way to do that is by not lying on the bare sand. Keep a clean towel and lay on it if you feel like relaxing on the beach.
You can also go one step further and get yourself a foldable chair or a hammock. This way you can protect yourself from coming in direct contact with these pests. Just make sure to also apply the natural sand flea repellents to ensure better pest control and treatment.
- Keep Anti-Itch Cream with You
When bitten by a sand flea your first instinct is usually to scratch the skin which only increases the pain and itchiness. To reduce the itchiness, you can keep hydro-cortisone-based anti-itching creams in your beach bag. These creams soothe your skin and reduce the itchy sensation thus allowing you to recover from the bites faster.
- Use Baby Oil
One effective hack is the use of baby oil on your exposed skin before going to the beach. This oil will save you from sand flea bites by creating a layer of protection on its surface.
You can also mix lavender, citronella, or lemongrass oil with the baby oil to repel sand fleas while on the beach.
Conclusion
Sand fleas can be a real nuisance for beachgoers. These creatures not only make your beach day worse but they can also accompany you to your house which further causes health and hygiene issues.
But with the right sand flea prevention hacks, you don’t have to worry about these issues at all. Just make sure to visit the beach during the daytime and keep a blanket, and chair, as well as some natural oil and anti-itching creams by your side and you are good to go.
Using these simple hacks, you can easily keep these pesky creatures at bay. So, make sure to use one or more of these tips to have a sand flea-free beach day every single time.
You can visit Lulu Pest Control and Cleaning Services today to get the best sand flea and other pest control services all over the UAE.