Flea Control sydney
Fleas are small, wingless and about 2.5 mm long. Their bodies are shiny and reddish brown in color, covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur. Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances.
Although fleas commonly feed off animals and pets, if they have no alternative food source they will turn to attacking and feeding off humans. This can leave children and the elderly especially vulnerable to flea bites. They have sharp mouth parts that will pierce the skin and will release an anticoagulant chemical into their host’s bloodstream to prevent clotting. They also have strong legs to hold onto hair and fur.
Once bitten, the host will feel incredibly itchy and will have an onset of skin reactions and irritation. In the most extreme cases pets or people that are allergic to flea bites can develop painful lesions and can wake up all times of the night as a reaction. Pets can become lethargic and this could impact their ability to eat or get the nutrients they need. Felas are also known to transfer tapeworms, this is incredibly harmful to pets.
If flea problems are not addressed, they can rapidly multiply and you might find yourself facing a flea infestation affecting your entire home.
Since the immature stages of fleas are very cryptic by nature, the first thing the homeowner should do is contact their pest control professional for assistance. Most of the time simply using over-the-counter products for controlling fleas will not resolve the root causes of the infestation.
This flea control plan will include:
Species – identifying the flea species causing the problem.
Education – explaining the flea’s life cycle and how their habits, habitat, and behavior can affect the pest control plan provided.
Hosts – inspecting for the presence of other animals that are the flea population’s source of food. This may include rodents either inside or outside the home or perhaps a raccoon or feral cat that is living in the crawl space.
Vets – homeowner contacting their veterinarian for advice and purchase of flea control products that can be used on pets.
Bathing – regular bathing and grooming of pets.
Chemicals – explaining the use of growth regulators that will interfere with the flea’s normal development into the adult stage.
Vacuum – using a strong vacuum to physically remove flea eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults.
Bedding – frequently washing and drying pet bedding.
Products – treating affected areas by using safe and effective flea control products where immature fleas may be located.
Inspections – scheduling a follow-up visit.
Flea infestations often come from a pet dog or cat. The pests attach to the animal when it’s outside, and then infest its fur and the places it sleeps indoors. Flea prevention for both the home and yard can be difficult. Without a proactive approach, any pet owner is vulnerable to an infestation.
Fleas depend on a blood meal from a host to survive. On some occasions, fleas may become an inside problem when the host they previously fed on is no longer around. Then fleas focus their feeding activity on other hosts that reside inside the home. An example of such a situation is when a mouse inside the home is trapped and removed, the fleas that previously fed on the mouse are then forced to feed on pets or people.
Flea bites may leave the host with numerous swollen, itchy marks. They may cause allergic reactions in some people and can transmit several diseases. Furry pets are the most at risk. Fleas can bite people and pets and can be a big nuisance. According to a recent CDC statement, the number of illnesses caused by flea bites tripled between 2004 and 2016.
The most serious aspect of a flea infestation is often the time and effort it takes to remove. Dealing with the problem requires treating infected animals, cleaning flea-infested areas, and taking preventative measures to keep the fleas from returning.
Many signs can indicate flea activity:
Pets Scratching – A common indication would be pets that repeatedly scratch and groom themselves. This is caused by the discomfort of the flea activity as the adult fleas feed on the pet’s blood.
Bites – People also may experience bites which leave behind itchy bite marks (a medical doctor can be consulted, since there are other sources of skin irritation beside fleas).
Feces – Flea dirt, the adult flea feces, also can indicate activity. Flea dirt looks similar to
coarse ground black pepper and may be seen in pet beds, carpets, rugs and other areas where the animal host rests.
Adult fleas – Since fleas are relatively easy to see in their adult stage, most of the attention is directed at adult fleas. Adult fleas are usually easy to locate, especially if the homeowner and their pets return to the house after a long vacation or other absence during which the resident flea adults were not able to take a blood meal. Upon returning, the homeowners are often greeted by fleas jumping around and trying to land on them and their pets.
Flea Eggs – The flea eggs, larvae and pupae are another situation. Since these stages are much more secretive and much less active, they are found in out-of-the-way places like:
behind, under or in furniture
in a pet’s bedding
inside cracks and grooves in the floors
in carpets
Flea eggs that were deposited by the female adult, fall off your pets as they move, allowing them to be disbursed throughout the environment where a pet spends time.
Adults are parasites that draw blood from a host. Larvae feed on organic debris, particularly the feces of adult fleas, which contain undigested blood. Fleas commonly prefer to feed on hairy animals such as:
dogs
cats
rabbits
squirrels
rats
mice
domesticated animal
wild animals
Eggs are not attached to the host. Eggs will hatch in the following places:
on the ground
in rugs
carpet
bedding
upholstery
cracks in the floor
Employing exclusion practices is important for many pest problems, but exclusion does not have a major, direct benefit for flea control. However, sealing cracks, gaps and holes to help keep rodents or other potential hosts from gaining access into the home is an important indirect way to keep fleas outside.
The most effective ways to keep fleas from getting inside the home is to eliminate outdoor flea habitats and outdoor hosts, plus using area-wide flea control chemical products and veterinarian-approved flea control products on pets.
Dog Fleas (ctenocephalides canis)
Cat Fleas (ctenocephalides felis)
The development of fleas involves a four-phase life cycle. Beginning as eggs, fleas undergo larval and pupal stages before emerging as adults. Depending on the species, the life expectancy of a flea is eight days to two months or, in some cases, up to a year.
One pair of fleas can produce more than 1 million offspring through their offspring’s offspring in a matter of weeks.
Eggs
The flea’s life cycle begins when a fertilized female finds a suitable location for laying her eggs. The ideal egg site is material that the larvae will eat when they hatch from the egg. Examples of egg-laying sites might include a pile of trash, feces, or other damp, decomposing organic material. In some cases, fertilized eggs hatch within 24 hours.
Larvae
Upon hatching, larvae feed upon the organic material. flea larvae eat for several days to weeks, storing enough protein and nutrients to last through their upcoming pupa stage.
Pupal
When larvae are grown, they leave their food source and seek dry, dark places within which to pupate. During the pupal stage, fleas develop from legless larvae into adults with six legs, compound eyes, and a pair of wings.
Adult
Development time from egg to adult varies depending on species, environmental conditions, and abundance of food. Some fleas can complete their development in a matter of a couple of weeks if conditions are right.
Fleas may use humans as a transportation method to their preferred host such as a cat or dog. It is unlikely and usually rare for fleas to live in human hair.
Fleas can live in furniture depending on the environment and whether they have had a blood meal recently. Sometimes eggs or larvae can hide in furniture until it matures and then jump onto the closest host.
Fleas can live in shoes depending on the environment and whether they have had a bloodmeal recently. Sometimes eggs or larvae can hide in shoes until it matures and then jump onto the closest host.
Salt can indeed kill a flea. When sprinkled on a flea, it sucks the moisture from their bodies, drying them out. However, using salt will not manage a flea infestation as direct contact with each flea is needed to be effective. Additionally, this method will not get rid of fleas on your pets or flea eggs, so the infestation will likely continue.
