Fleas and Flea Control

Insect Pests – Fleas and Flea Control

Fleas are usually found on cats, dogs, carpets, furniture, dusty floors, sandy sub-floor areas and even grass areas.  Although the common names, cat flea and dog flea, would suggest that a particular species of flea is specific to one host, this is not the case, and either of the abovementioned species can be found “biting” various hosts, including humans.

Fleas are found only on warm blooded animals, and both male and female adults survive on blood meals.  The female adult flea generally takes a blood meal prior to egg laying.  She can lay several hundred eggs during a lifetime. These eggs turn into a white legless larvae which feed on food debris, human skin scales and undigested blood secreted by the adult fleas.  After several weeks the larvae pupate in a silken cocoon where they remain for 7 to 14 days.  The adult flea emerges from this cocoon and attaches itself to a host ready to start the cycle again.

Fleas do not spend their entire time on the host and often drop off between feeds.

When a flea infestation occurs in a domestic residence, the bites are usually observed on the ankles or lower parts of the legs as small red spots, which due to the injection of flea saliva at the time of biting to prevent blood coagulating, can cause severe irritation to the host.

The role of fleas in the transmission of various diseases is well documented, are some of the more common diseases attributed to fleas are bubonic plague, where the bacteria is transmitted between rats and humans by the flea, and also murine and endemic typhus.  Tapeworms may also be transmitted by fleas.

Fleas prefer warm humid environments and breed mainly in the warmer months, hence “flea plagues” usually occur during summer, especially outdoors.

Before any treatment takes place, the area should be carefully cleaned, especially under furniture and carpet edges.  Upholstered furniture and areas where pets rest or sleep should be given special attention. All vacuumed particles should be burnt or sprayed with an aerosol to kill the fleas and larvae present.

Pet bedding should be washed or replaced and the pets given a flea wash.  Your local veterinarian will advise you of the best products to use.  The target lifecycle for the treatment of fleas is the larvae stage.  Generally the infested area is treated a second time 14 days after the original treatment.