As summer approaches and the weather warms, fleas become a common problem for many households. Understanding how to reduce the risk of an infestation and what to do if one occurs can save you and your pets from significant discomfort. Here, we provide expert advice to help you manage fleas effectively.
The Flea Life Cycle: Why It Matters
Understanding the flea life cycle is essential for effective control. Did you know that a single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day? Fleas progress through several stages in their life cycle:
Egg → Larva → Pupa (cocoon) → Juvenile Flea → Adult Flea (reproductive stage).
Each stage presents unique challenges for treatment, and it’s important to understand these when tackling an infestation.
Treating Fleas: Where to Start
1.Treat Your Pets First
Flea control begins with your pets. Simply using a flea shampoo may not provide long-term results. Instead, consult your veterinarian for a recommended chewable tablet or topical treatment. These methods are far more effective for long-term control.
○Consider rotating the active ingredients in flea treatments occasionally (with your vet’s advice) to prevent resistance.
○During winter, when flea activity is lower in most parts of NSW, you may be able to pause treatments (unless they include heartworm protection or other benefits).
○Consider rotating the active ingredients in flea treatments occasionally (with your vet’s advice) to prevent resistance.
○During winter, when flea activity is lower in most parts of NSW, you may be able to pause treatments (unless they include heartworm protection or other benefits).
2.Address the Home Environment
If fleas are jumping on you, the infestation may be severe, and professional help might be required. Pest control services can apply surface treatments with chemicals and Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) to disrupt the flea life cycle.
3.DIY Flea Bombs
Flea bombs can offer some relief, but their effectiveness is often exaggerated. Use them alongside other control methods for the best results.
4.Maintain Good Hygiene
○Wash your pet’s bedding regularly with hot water.
○Vacuum frequently to remove eggs and larvae from carpets and furniture.
○Steam clean carpets before professional treatments, but avoid doing so afterward, as it can reduce the effectiveness of chemical treatments.
Why Are Fleas So Hard to Control?
Fleas are notoriously challenging to manage due to their life cycle. Chemical treatments cannot penetrate flea eggs or pupae, meaning these stages must mature before the fleas can be killed. Here’s why this matters:
●Dormancy Period: Flea eggs and pupae can remain dormant for over 12 months,
waiting for the right conditions to hatch.
●Rehatching Fleas: Even after treatment, you may still see fleas as the pupae hatch into juvenile fleas. Vibrations—such as walking around your home—can trigger this process, making it frustrating to control fleas in vacant properties.
waiting for the right conditions to hatch.
●Rehatching Fleas: Even after treatment, you may still see fleas as the pupae hatch into juvenile fleas. Vibrations—such as walking around your home—can trigger this process, making it frustrating to control fleas in vacant properties.
Common Flea Misconceptions
1.Grass Fleas
People often believe fleas live in grass, but this isn’t true. Fleas require a host to survive. What people call “grass fleas” are usually juvenile fleas that haven’t fed yet, making them more aggressive in seeking a host.
2.Rehatching Fleas After Treatment
Post-treatment flea activity is normal as pupae hatch. You’ll often notice more activity in the morning or after the house has been empty during the day.
Who’s Most at Risk for Flea Infestations?
Who’s Most at Risk for Flea Infestations?
Certain situations make flea infestations more likely:
●Pet Loss: When a pet is no longer present, fleas look for new hosts—often humans.
●New Homeowners: If the previous occupants had pets with fleas, eggs and pupae
left behind can hatch after you move in, especially in warmer months.
●Post-Holiday Returns: A vacant house allows fleas to progress to the pupal stage,
ready to hatch when vibrations signal a host’s return.
●New Homeowners: If the previous occupants had pets with fleas, eggs and pupae
left behind can hatch after you move in, especially in warmer months.
●Post-Holiday Returns: A vacant house allows fleas to progress to the pupal stage,
ready to hatch when vibrations signal a host’s return.
Practical Tips for Flea Control
●Prevention is Key: Keep pets on a year-round flea prevention program during peak seasons (spring, summer, and autumn).
●Clean Bedding Regularly: Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs.
●Manage Outdoor Spaces: Prevent pets from accessing sub-floor areas, which can become ideal breeding grounds.
●Avoid Over-Mopping: After professional treatments, avoid mopping floors as detergents can break down the chemical treatment.
●Keep Pets at Home Post-Treatment: Pets play a critical role in breaking the flea life cycle by attracting fleas to the treated areas.
If you’re managing a vacant property, consider having someone visit regularly to encourage
flea pupae to hatch so they can be controlled.
●Clean Bedding Regularly: Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs.
●Manage Outdoor Spaces: Prevent pets from accessing sub-floor areas, which can become ideal breeding grounds.
●Avoid Over-Mopping: After professional treatments, avoid mopping floors as detergents can break down the chemical treatment.
●Keep Pets at Home Post-Treatment: Pets play a critical role in breaking the flea life cycle by attracting fleas to the treated areas.
If you’re managing a vacant property, consider having someone visit regularly to encourage
flea pupae to hatch so they can be controlled.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your flea problem persists despite your best efforts, it may be time to contact a professional pest control service. Experts can assess your situation and apply targeted treatments to help bring the infestation under control. Flea infestations are frustrating but manageable with the right approach. For advice or assistance, contact Bugs Or Us Pest Control at 0490 454 644.