Hopefully, this story doesn't make you feel too itchy, but I learned something new, and I don't want to be the only one who suffers from this knowledge.

Fun Fact: Snow fleas are a thing, and if it snows where you live, there is a chance you just might run into them. Good news though... they aren't nearly as bad as real fleas. 

Winter park in snow
Hydromet
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What Are Snow Fleas?

According to EEK, and other sources... "snow fleas" are not actually fleas. They also thrive in the winter.

Like insects, snow fleas have six legs but they are more closely related to crustaceans. They come out on warm, sunny days to eat decayed plant material or sap oozing from the tree. They hop around, acting like fleas, and that's where they get their name, snow "fleas."

While these things are not actually fleas, they happen to look a lot like fleas. During warmer periods in the winter, when the snow melts, these critters can be found dotting the snow. Snow fleas also have the same super-powered jumping ability that regular fleas have.

Super macro close up of brown, amber colored flea, Siphonaptera on human skin. It survives as external bloodsucking parasite of mammals and birds.
S.Rohrlach
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Thankfully snow fleas are also way less terrible than real fleas. Still, I would not recommend rolling around with snow fleas.

Snow Fleas Don’t Bite!

Thankfully snow fleas do not bite, and have a cool way of staying alive,

Snow fleas produce their own type of antifreeze, a protein that is rich in the amino acid glycine. Glycine prevents the formation and enlargement of ice crystals, enabling these creatures to keep on munching organic materials despite the bitter cold.

Still, check for snow fleas when around trees and melting snow.

Golden Retriever (Canis familiaris)
SvetaElfimova
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Stay safe and have a great rest of your winter.

This Iowa "Bargain Mansion" Has Captured TikTok's Attention

A home for sale in Ottumwa, Iowa was featured in a TikTok because of it's size and it's very light price tag.

Iowa Stingray Home

This home is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It holds two tanks, both around 300 gallons each. They both contain different types of stingrays. As for right now, this project is just for fun, though the owners do hope to someday breed these rays.

It's been about a 6-month process getting all the supplies, tanks, and stingrays.

 

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