Fleas: these are small, brown, or reddish-brown wingless kinds of insects. They have back legs allowing them to jump from the ground to your pets, or vice versa. These pests live by consuming blood from their hosts.
They attack warm-blooded vertebrates like rabbits, squirrels, birds, and rats. Normally, they make their way through our family pets like cats and dogs. They are easily dispersed throughout the entire house as our fur babies scratch to relieve itching from these pests’ bites. On some occasions, humans are also susceptible to their bites.
They are dangerous to both humans and pets. If a flea bites you or your pet, it can cause rashes, mild to severe itching, and discomfort to the skin. This can potentially cause bacterial infection if not treated properly. Pets can also get tapeworms in case they swallow a flea that is infected by tapeworms.
Fleas Life Cycle
A flea’s life cycle has four stages. Understanding each stage can help you prevent and treat an infestation in the future. The entire life cycle takes about 21 days, but it still depends on the moisture and temperature in the area. Their life cycle is greatly affected by humidity and temperature. They are more likely to survive in places with higher humidity and temperature. They do not hatch and become inactive when there are low heat and humidity.
- Eggs - Flea eggs are too small and are very hard to see without a microscope. They are about 0.5 millimeters in length and as small as a grain of sugar. Flea eggs have off-white oval soft shells. They typically hatch in 2 to 12 days.
- Larvae - Flea larvae are about 2 to 5 millimeters long. They are like tiny worms with pale-colored hair and a whitish body. This stage lasts for about 4 to 18 days.
- Pupae - Flea pupae are white initially but they turn into yellow then becomes brown before it finally turns into an adult flea. Most pupae normally last for 4 days but in some cases, they can live up to 140 days. This is the most troublesome stage in a flea’s life cycle.
- Adults - Adult fleas live for about 2-3 months. These parasites survive by sucking blood from their hosts which means that their life can be shortened in case there are no hosts available for some time.
How Would You Know If There Is A Flea Infestation In Your House?
Fleas multiply very quickly. Female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day or 5,000 or more eggs in their lifetime. They have the ability to multiply into thousands if their growth is not prevented, so it’s important to get rid of them as soon as possible. Here are some steps that would help you identify if there are fleas living in your home:
- Check your fur baby - It’s easy to tell if your pet has fleas. Observe and see if they continuously scratch. If the answer is yes, then most likely, there are fleas living on their body and it is time for you to take action. Inspect your pet’s skin by moving their fur and see if you are able to find black or red spots. These spots or specks indicate flea feces. Fleas normally stay in your pet’s armpits, neck, behind the ears, and waist. You can also let him stand on a piece of white paper or cloth. Comb the fur and see if there will be an indication of flea feces or fleas itself.
- Check your carpets and furniture - These creatures hide within fibers. If you suspect flea infestation in your house, you better check the carpets, rugs, and furniture as well. Be mindful, these parasites are too small so most people find it hard to detect that there are already fleas living in their upholstery.
What’s The First Step To Take Once You Are Able To Confirm That There Are Fleas In Your Home?
There are DIY home treatments and carpet powders you can try and buy from stores. To make sure you’ll be able to control these parasites from spreading and multiplying each passing day, it is important to thoroughly clean each surface and corner of your house. Focus on the pet, carpets, pillows, and linens or anywhere and anything that your pet has access to. Use a flea shampoo for your pet since they are the number one source of these parasites.
- Use chemical treatments - There are pesticides you can buy in the store that could help you get rid of those fleas. However, before buying and using these kinds of spray, you must do your research first and check how it can affect you and your pet’s health. Be sure to read the labels carefully so you would know if these products are safe or not. Don’t forget to wear gloves when applying these chemicals. For your safety, this should not be applied when there are pets and people inside your house.
- Steam clean - Soap and high heat is a combination these fleas hate the most. If there’s an opportunity for you to do a steam clean, then you may perform this in your furniture, bed, linens, carpet, pillows, and even rugs.
- Natural remedies - Worried about using chemicals in getting rid of these pests? There is indeed a natural way to make them go away! A solution using rosemary leaves can actually solve your problem. Just add two cups of rosemary leaves to hot water, let it cool down, and use it to soak, rinse and spray to your pets.
- Wash your pet’s bedding using hot water - Washing your pet’s bedding regularly can help prevent fleas from coming. If you’re able to confirm that your pet already has fleas, use hot water to wash their bedding or take the pet’s bed to a dry cleaner. Don’t forget to check if the dry cleaner uses pet-friendly materials.
- Use a flea shampoo - There are so many flea shampoos you can purchase over the counter. If you are unsure which product is safe and effective to use, you can also contact your vet to ask for recommendations or ask friends who already experienced dealing with these parasites.
- Flea comb - Unlike the regular pet comb, the teeth of a flea comb are fine which makes it easier for fleas, flea eggs, and dirt to be trapped when you use it.
- Observe and spot where your pet normally lies down - The area where your pet normally sleeps or stays is most likely the place where fleas can be found. Be sure to regularly clean this area. You may vacuum this spot or use a spray when your pet is not around.
When To Call A Professional?
If infestation is not resolved by the products we buy in stores on our first attempt, it’s time to call the experts to help us take care of the issue. These pests can cause harm to both pets and humans so it must be treated aggressively. There are several reasons why you should contact a pest control service:
Here are the top 3 reasons why most people choose to get help from these experts instead of dealing with the problem on their own:
Safe
Pest control technicians are well-trained and they know which products are safe and effective to use. If you want to make sure that you and your pet’s health won’t be at risk, it’s better to leave the job to them.
Effective
Many pest control companies use effective products to completely eliminate these kinds of creatures. They know how to properly identify an infestation and can give you good results at the end of the day.
Cost
Pest exterminators provide cost-effective services. They can eliminate these parasites completely on the first attempt.
Choosing The Best Pest Control Company
If you are looking for the best pest control company in the Triangle region to help you completely eradicate these pests, choose Go-Forth Home Services.
Go-Forth Home Services is a family-owned company that specializes in modern pest control services and techniques. We use the latest and most advanced technology in the business, making our service more efficient, safer, and more convenient. Our team of expert professionals can provide the best pest control services to residents and business establishments all throughout the Triangle region.
Go-Forth Home Services brings in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. We have expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders, so you can really say goodbye to these pests in your home.
You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.
Go-Forth Home Services has earned the trust of residents and businesses in the Carolinas for more than 50 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial (877) 274-1475.