Fleas are vulnerable to high frequency Magnetic fields?

[yellowdingo]

Something odd just happened. My dog jumped on me sitting at the computer and after a quick hug of reassurance the dog scarpered leaving me with a flea on the laptop. And wow if the flea wasn't twitching and acting weird directly over where the hard drive is located.

So are fleas going to be tormented by human technology as it spreads its evil? What is it doing to all the other organisms on the human body we cant see?

Can we do away with poisons and go with electromagnetic delouse technology?

[,]

I would hazard a guess and say 'No'.

Of course, if there is a way to clinically conduct a series of tests with your Hard Drive and a number of fleas to see if they continue to die while in such close proximity to said device...then maybe you are onto something? ;)

[Thomas LeBlanc]

I have a high powered/hand held degausser at work, which I could take home. I know it can wipe a HDD from 2 feet away. Sadly no fleas at my apt to try this on. Do you think random people walking their dogs would let me try to de-flea their pets?

[Matthew Morris]

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

I have a high powered/hand held degausser at work, which I could take home. I know it can wipe a HDD from 2 feet away. Sadly no fleas at my apt to try this on. Do you think random people walking their dogs would let me try to de-flea their pets?

Just as long as you don't reformat Fluffy...

[W E Ray]

Actually, only fleas native to Australia have this problem.

[Ross Byers]

If your dog wears a flea collar, or you regularly give it anti-flea medication, it's possible that the flea was already dying from the toxins on the dog when it fell off, as opposed to starting to freak out near the magnetic field.

[Moorluck]

And the award goes to Ross Byers!!

[Wolfie, KC's #2 Buddy]

And everyone laughed at me when I made little foil jumpsuits for my flea circus performers... well who's laughing now?

{begins to wrap self in aluminum foil}

[yellowdingo]

Ross Byers wrote:

If your dog wears a flea collar, or you regularly give it anti-flea medication, it's possible that the flea was already dying from the toxins on the dog when it fell off, as opposed to starting to freak out near the magnetic field.

Ain't any of those...no flea collar or poisons. It only acted nuts when directly over the HDD.

[A CR20 Seagull]

Get 2 jars, One away from any magnetic stuff, one as close to the HDD as possible. drop a flea in each, see what happens?

[Moorluck]

Trust me when I say this, fleas are NOT affected by magnetic fields. I say trust me because it's my job to understand the biology of insects, and there have already been studies into various methods such as sonic and magnetic control of a wide spectrum of pest. They have proven to be ineffective.

[yellowdingo]

Moorluck wrote:

Trust me when I say this, fleas are NOT affected by magnetic fields. I say trust me because it's my job to understand the biology of insects, and there have already been studies into various methods such as sonic and magnetic control of a wide spectrum of pest. They have proven to be ineffective.

Its either affecting their brains or its affecting their hearts - either way its electromagnetic interference of a high frequency.

[,]

yellowdingo wrote:

Its either affecting their brains or its affecting their hearts - either way its electromagnetic interference of a high frequency.

Uhm..so far you seem to be basing that statement/idea from a sample size of one...with no controls...

Given that said flea fell off your dog and randomly onto that part of your lap-top...perhaps it was just an old flea already on its way out?

To Master Moorluck, is true that an insects 'cuticle' is quite resistant to a lot of things? Hence roaches surviving higher levels of radiation than humans?

[Wolfie, KC's #2 Buddy]

yellowdingo wrote:

Moorluck wrote:

Trust me when I say this, fleas are NOT affected by magnetic fields. I say trust me because it's my job to understand the biology of insects, and there have already been studies into various methods such as sonic and magnetic control of a wide spectrum of pest. They have proven to be ineffective.

Its either affecting their brains or its affecting their hearts - either way its electromagnetic interference of a high frequency.

Nah man, that flea got hit by a micro-singularity meant for you. He saved your life. {pours out a couple glugs from his 40oz for his ctenocephalides homey}

[Moorluck]

, wrote:

yellowdingo wrote:

Its either affecting their brains or its affecting their hearts - either way its electromagnetic interference of a high frequency.

Uhm..so far you seem to be basing that statement/idea from a sample size of one...with no controls...

Given that said flea fell off your dog and randomly onto that part of your lap-top...perhaps it was just an old flea already on its way out?

To Master Moorluck, is true that an insects 'cuticle' is quite resistant to a lot of things? Hence roaches surviving higher levels of radiation than humans?

That's true. Where our bodies are designed to absorb things from our environment, i.e. sunlight, water, etc Insects (and arachnid)are designed to insulate them from their environment. That's why so many commercial grade pesticides, including a number of the "green" choices contain acidic additives, such as citrus acid and petroleum base.

And as an aside, cockroaches can/will coat their bodies with grease so as to facilitate squeezing into tighter areas, which has the side effect of making them even more resistant to chemical controls. ;)

[,]

*[Kent Brokman voice On]I, for one, am preparing to bow down before our new Cockroach Over-lords.[Kent Brokman voice Off] :P

So....a think coating/skin/cuticle that is highly resistant to things external.....*Ponders* Methinks the feeble field coming through the plastic idea is on shakier grounds.