Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Flip

Original poster

Soil full of fleas!?

16 replies

Asleeponasunbeam · 05/05/2014 02:16

We're redoing our garden at the moment - it has been a little neglected for a while. Yesterday I was pulling up the remains of the raised veg box with DD, who was looking for 'minibeasts'.

The soil was literally jumping with fleas. Definitely fleas. Unmistakably so. I've never seen fleas when digging before, so as surprised (and a bit creeped out). I can't really find anything about them (in soil) online. Are they normal? Harmful to the garden? Will they get on the dog/ cat (children!)?

The veg box soil is destined for becoming part of the new lawn. Do I need to treat it or something first?

Yuck!

OP posts:

MrsRTea · 05/05/2014 02:17

Foxes. Yes, they will get on dogs and cats. Ugh, poor you.

MrsRTea · 05/05/2014 02:18

Probably a place where a fox has taken to sunning itself.

Original poster

Asleeponasunbeam · 05/05/2014 02:21

Ugh. Never seen evidence of a fox. Seriously, there were thousands of the little buggers. I'm glad DD can't write yet - she was making a comprehensive list of 'minibeasts'. Her teacher won't be able to read it though!

OP posts:

EauRouge · 05/05/2014 06:50

Hedgehogs carry fleas too, have you seen any hedgehog poo around? Birds can also carry fleas, my grandparents had to bin their bird box because it was full of fleas. Not sure the best way to treat outside, I would think a chat with pest control would be your best bet.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 05/05/2014 18:18

I would imagine if you dig them out and spread them around a bit they will die fairly quickly, surely they need a host to live on?

Original poster

Asleeponasunbeam · 05/05/2014 19:59

There's no host there. Just an empty ex-veg plot. They were still jumping happily today. Bleugh! I didn't dare let the DC dig there. Hundreds of them. No exaggeration!

OP posts:

lloydlf76 · 05/05/2014 20:09

Could you boil the kettle a couple of times and just pour it over them?

PigletJohn · 05/05/2014 20:28

I expect there will be a lot of eggs, too. There must be some animal that they jump on and off.

you can get insect powder from garden shops, which you rake into the soil when dry.

It might contain permethrin, I don't remember. At one time I thought of putting it down in a place where a fox use to sleep, hoping it would combat mange.

Original poster

Asleeponasunbeam · 05/05/2014 20:31

Well I've got a dog and a cat - both are up to date with flea treatment and don't seem to have any. I don't think they hang around in that area of the garden much.

I feel horrible! They're really prolific!

OP posts:

TalkinPeace · 05/05/2014 22:13

I bet they are not fleas
I bet they are these www.brc.ac.uk/downloads/Presentations/2012_TonyBarber_Amphipod.pdf
completely harmless and good for eating decaying matter

Original poster

Asleeponasunbeam · 05/05/2014 22:34

Oh hurray! I think you're right! But they look exactly like fleas. I'd never heard of fleas all over soil and couldn't find much about them.

I'll look more closely tomorrow!

I'll sleep in peace tonight I think. Thanks.

OP posts:

TalkinPeace · 05/05/2014 22:35

we have them in our garden : the first time you lift up a pot and these things jump in all directions is a bit of a shock
but they are in fact the sign of a healthy garden in the areas where they occur.

StanleyLambchop · 06/05/2014 20:20

I have found them too, I just tend to leave them alone, my soil seems fine, I would not panic, soil has all sorts of mini beasts, it shows it is of good quality!

Standance · 16/05/2021 13:43

Hello,

Not sure if you will answer my question as this was made in 2014.

I tried to open the link to the “not flea but looks like flea image”. I was trying to gather the details on this interesting little soil beast.

I found them in my soil with my indoor green onions, the roots of my onions were fine. I had them in a self water container and the sun had created a bit of algae. When I repotted I ran into them. I knew it could not be fleas because I have no pets and they are indoors. But I was not sure if they were healthy creatures or not.
I did go the webpage but of course I did not know the details to specifically look up what they are.
Would you be able to provide the link once more?

Catabogus · 16/05/2021 16:07

I think it must be these:
www.bmig.org.uk/species/arcitalitrus-dorrieni

Standance · 16/05/2021 18:50

Thanks for your reply.

I also found a name of one that is called “springtails”.They do not directly engage in the decomposition of organic matter, but contribute to it indirectly through the fragmentation of organic matter[2] and the control of soil microbial communities.

These tiny jumping bugs are most commonly found in areas of high moisture such as soil, where they feed on mold and fungus
springtails feed on decaying organic matter and fungus

Flip