What are fleas?
Fleas are small parasitic insects known for their impressive jumping ability, tiny size, and their common appearance on cats and dogs. Fleas are typically dark brown or reddish-brown in color, they have six legs and biting mouthparts, and adults grow to approximately an eighth of an inch in length.
A flea infestation on your property often quickly grows out of control due to the prolific nature of this pest and fast reproduction times. Effective flea control depends on the total elimination of all life stages of fleas (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) in order to completely remove an infestation.
Are fleas dangerous?
Though fleas are most well-known for the itchy bites they leave behind, this pest may also transmit illnesses to the humans and animals they bite. Serious flea diseases you might pick up after bites from this pest include murine typhus, tungiasis, tularemia, and bartonellosis. Fleas may also pass along parasites such as tapeworms.
Fleas can often cause excessive scratching, hair loss, and allergic reactions in pets. Severe infestations can lead to anemia and lethargy if they remain untreated.
Why do I have a flea problem?
Flea problems are likely to start on properties that have plenty of the things they love – animals or humans to feed on and easy hiding spots. Areas with an excess of light, movement, heat, and carbon dioxide tend to attract fleas, as they look for all these items as an indicator suitable hosts for feeding are nearby.
Natural flea treatment involves reducing and removing these factors to make your property less hospitable to fleas. It's also important to vacuum and wash pet bedding regularly to pick up any stray fleas that have made their way inside or flea eggs that have been laid before an infestation has time to spread.
Where will I find fleas?
Fleas are either found in outdoor areas hiding and looking for hosts, on animals and humans, or hiding in indoor spaces. You may encounter fleas in long grasses, on wild animals, on cats and dogs that don't have flea protections applied, or hiding in the fibers of carpets and fabrics found in indoor areas.
How do I get rid of fleas?
The best way to get rid of fleas is by contacting Explorer Pest Management. Our team will conduct an inspection to determine the source of your flea problem before providing you with an effective treatment that eradicates all traces of this pest.
Contact us today to learn more about our flea control solutions or to request a free consultation.
How can I prevent fleas in the future?
Prevent future flea problems by using the steps below to safeguard your property against invasions of this pest:
- Treat all pets living on your property with a veterinarian-approved flea control medication on a regular basis, especially if they spend extended time outdoors or with other animals.
- Check animals on your property for fleas often via combing and baths to stay ahead of a potential infestation.
- Ensure wild animals are kept away from your property to stop them from dropping fleas off around outdoor areas.
- Vacuum interior spaces often and dust or declutter regularly to remove fleas in all life stages that may have snuck unnoticed into interior areas.
- Keep outdoor spaces clear of long grasses, debris piles, and wood piles to reduce flea hiding spots.
- Stay out of overgrown areas when outdoors to reduce your chances of picking up opportunistic fleas.
Contact Explorer Pest Management for more expert flea control advice or removal assistance.
