Can Fleas Live In House Without Animals

By: Mike Merchant and James Robinson

Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the claret of animals and people. Americans spend about $9 billion a year decision-making fleas – one of the biggest expenses for pet owners. In Texas, near flea problems are acquired by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. This flea feeds on cats, dogs and wildlife. Other kinds of fleas, such equally the domestic dog flea, human flea, and rat flea, are less mutual on pets and in homes. Fortunately, fleas demand not be a serious trouble because there are many effective treatments.

Identifying the Trouble

Adult cat fleas are nigh 1/viii inch long (1 to 3 mm). They are brownish-black, flattened looking, and without wings. Backward-pointing bristles help fleas move through the hairs or feathers of host animals and make them more hard to remove past grooming. The half dozen legs, especially the hind pair, are long and adapted for jumping.

Flea larvae are less than 1/iv inch long (6 mm), legless, and dirty white in colour. The most likely place to discover larvae is in infested pet bedding.

Understanding Fleas

During their life cycle fleas pass through four stages–egg, larva, pupa and adult. Although they tin bound, adult fleas practise non ordinarily travel long distances without a host. Fleas prefer to expect and jump onto a passing fauna. One time aboard, they remain until they are dislodged or groomed from the animal. Without a host, adult fleas live just a few days to ii weeks. On curt-haired cats and dogs fleas survive an average of 8 days; they alive longer on long-haired animals.

The female flea begins laying eggs within ii days of her showtime blood repast. Four to ix days later she produces an average of 27 eggs per day, consuming about 15 times her body weight in claret daily. Much of this blood is excreted as partially digested feces. Flea carrion are a fine, reddish-black dust seen in pet fur and bedding.

Flea larvae feed on adult flea excrement. Without it, they cannot survive, although they also may feed on organic thing such as food particles, dead peel or feathers. Larvae develop in five to 11 days.

Fleas do not survive well outdoors in hot, sunny lawns. Relative humidity less than 50 per centum or soil temperature college than 95 degrees F kills flea larvae. Moist, shaded spots about pet resting areas are the places to discover fleas. Indoors, flea larvae are usually found under furniture and in pet bedding.

The pupa is the transition stage betwixt the larva and adult. The pupa forms inside a cocoon spun past the larva. After a week or two the pupa becomes an adult. The adult flea may remain in the cocoon for upwardly to 5 months, but when stimulated by a passing animal the developed tin can emerge within seconds. Long-vacant homes or apartments tin can "come alive" with such fleas when new inhabitants move in.

Animal and Human being Wellness

Fleas tin exist a source of both irritation and affliction. Dogs and cats scratch constantly when heavily infested, resulting in soiled and roughened coats and, sometimes, in nervous conditions. The near serious effects occur when a pet develops an allergy to flea bites. As few as one or 2 bites tin cause severe itching and scratching in allergic pets.

Cat fleas practice not ordinarily live on humans, simply do seize with teeth people who handle infested animals. Flea bites cause minor, ruby, itchy bumps, usually on the ankles and lower legs. People with allergies to flea bites suffer from hives, rashes or generalized itching. Allergic reactions unremarkably appear 12 to 24 hours later a bite, and may last a week or more than.

Fleas that take fed on rodents may transmit diseases, including plague and murine typhus. For this reason, avoid shut contact with wild rodents such every bit squirrels, rats and prairie dogs. Their fleas can bite you lot and may transmit disease. Cat fleas, even so, practice not carry plague.

Control

An integrated flea control programme includes good sanitation and treatment of the pet and environs. You can eliminate fleas from your home with proper handling, but it may take fourth dimension, especially if the infestation is heavy.

Sanitation. Change pet bedding regularly and vacuum thoroughly. Vacuuming removes up to 30 percent of the larvae and up to 60 percent of flea eggs from a carpet, likewise as the larvae's food supply of stale blood.

Vacuum under furniture, cushions, chairs, beds, and along walls. Discard vacuum cleaner bags at least once a week. Fleas tin can keep to develop inside vacuum cleaner bags and re-infest the house.

Treating Pets. Your pet's first line of defense against fleas is a flea rummage and a good bath. Soap acts every bit a gentle insecticide and helps control light infestations on your pet. Though fourth dimension consuming, combing helps reduce the need for insecticides. Flea combs have fine teeth that remove adult fleas from fur. Most dogs and cats seem to enjoy this treatment; pay special attention to the face up and cervix, and the area in front of the tail. Dip the comb frequently in soapy water or an alcohol solution to impale fleas removed from the pet.

Insect growth regulators, or IGRs, are a safe preventative treatment for fleas. These products work past disrupting the normal evolution of flea eggs and larvae. When exposed to IGRs, adult fleas are unable to reproduce; eggs neglect to hatch and larvae die earlier they complete their development. Because most IGRs kill only eggs and larvae, they do not eliminate adult fleas quickly. For this reason, they are normally mixed with a mild insecticide.

Insect growth regulators are available equally sprays, spot-ons, pills or food additives. One product designed for internal use is called Program® (active ingredient: lufenuron). Program® tin be given equally a pill (for dogs), food condiment (for cats), or injection (for cats). A similar product, Sentry®, contains lufenuron plus a heartworm preventative. These products are available only through veterinarians. They are very effective, particularly for indoor pets.

Two other insect growth regulators for topical apply are methoprene and pyriproxyfen. Methoprene is sold under several trade names including Precor® and vIGRen®. Methoprene and pyriproxyfen are available at pet stores as dips, pet sprays, spot-ons and flea collars. Control requires 4 to 6 weeks.

For astringent flea problems, an IGR treatment may non be quick enough. Use a production that kills developed fleas, such as imidacloprid (Reward™) or fipronil (Frontline™). Both products have low toxicity to mammals and pose little risk to pets or people. Advantage™ and Frontline™ provide 1- and 3-calendar month protection from fleas, respectively. Frontline™ also kills ticks for up to 1 month after application. Both Advantage™ and Frontline™ are bachelor from veterinarians as spray and spot-on treatments.

Spot-on treatments (pesticides applied to ane or more than spots on the animal'southward back) control developed fleas effectively. Natural oils on the fur help transfer the pesticide to all parts of the pet's body. With all products, read and follow label directions carefully. Products designed for use on adult dogs should non be used on puppies or cats, unless specified on the label.

Botanical (plant-based) insecticides kill adult and larval fleas and are relatively low in toxicity. Botanical insecticides include pyrethrum (or pyrethrins) and citrus oil extracts (limonene and linalool). Use botanical insecticides with care. Though usually safe when applied co-ordinate to label directions, some pets (especially sure cat breeds) are sensitive to botanicals–particularly citrus oil products.

Information technology is sometimes claimed that garlic, Brewer's yeast, cedar bedding and various herbal sachets control fleas, but there is little scientific show to support such claims. Volatile oils in fresh cedar chips are toxic to fleas, merely the issue lasts a very short time. Tests have shown that Brewer's yeast does not protect pets from fleas.

Treating homes . The pet's living areas should be treated at the same time that the pet is treated. This kills young and newly emerging fleas and prevents re-infestation of the pet.

Several low-toxicity treatments are available for indoor employ. Citrus sprays containing limonene or linalool tin be practical to rugs, carpeting and pet bedding. These products kill fleas on contact, merely evaporate quickly and leave little residual protection against emerging fleas.

Boron-based products, such as disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, can be used on indoor carpeting and accept little skin (dermal) toxicity. Borates impale young fleas by contaminating their food supply. Because adult fleas feed on fresh claret only, boron insecticides do not control this life phase. Borate treatments are all-time practical as shampoos to avoid problems with dustiness, abrasion to carpets, and contamination of furniture or food preparation surfaces.

The insect growth regulators methoprene and pyriproxyfen tin be used indoors. Although methoprene is unstable in sunlight, it is an effective indoor treatment. Pyriproxyfen sprays, available to pest control professionals under the trade names Archer™ and Nylar™, tin be practical both indoors and outdoors. Pyriproxyfen controls both young and adult fleas. Indoors, care for pet loafing and sleeping areas, and in and under nearby piece of furniture. Outdoors, treat merely flea breeding sites such as bedding areas, the ground under decks and shrubbery, and wherever pets spend a lot of time. Well maintained lawns in sunny sites are unlikely to harbor many fleas. Suitable consumer products for indoor and outdoor treatments are listed in Table ane.

Follow-up. Considering flea pupae are difficult to kill with insecticides, an boosted follow-up treatment is usually needed 7 to ten days later on the get-go application. When using curt-remainder insecticides such every bit pyrethrins, two or three follow-up sprays at five- to ten-day intervals may be required.

Biological and Mechanical Controls

Fire ants and other predatory insects eat flea larvae simply they exercise not control fleas completely. Several kinds of predatory nematodes (a type of microscopic worm) are sold for outdoor flea command, merely their effectiveness has not been well tested. Studies suggest that nematodes work best in sandy soils. Irrigate with i/4 to 1/2 inch of water before and after application. This prolongs nematode survival and helps them motility through the soil in search of flea larvae.

Several kinds of flea traps are available from pest command companies and pet stores. The most effective designs apply a special green calorie-free that blinks occasionally to simulate the shadow of a passing host. About attract fleas to a mucilaginous carte du jour, where they are trapped. Identify traps near pet beds and loafing areas for best command. Past themselves, traps are unlikely to solve nigh flea problems; all the same, they can be a useful part of an integrated flea control program for your home.

Don't wait until fleas go out of mitt. Brainstorm your flea control program early for best results. Start a frequent and thorough sanitation program, regularly inspect your pet for fleas, carefully follow the label directions of the insecticide product yous cull, and dispose of all pesticides safely. These steps will aid you reduce the need for extra pesticide treatments.

Safe Considerations

Information technology'south important to wear the proper protective wearing apparel when applying pesticides. Long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks and shoes are the minimum. Check the pesticide characterization for additional safety requirements. When mixing liquid pesticides wear unlined, chemical resistant gloves. Permit pesticide sprays to dry out thoroughly earlier letting people or pets into a treated expanse.

Never dispose of flea dips or other unused pesticides in tempest sewers, toilets or sinks. This pollutes the environment and tin result in costly clean-ups for your community. Leftover flea dip may exist poured onto a grassy area for biological degradation, or disposed of in some other mode as specified on the label.

Working with a Pest Control Visitor

Sometimes it'due south all-time to accept professional assist when dealing with fleas. A pest control visitor can treat both indoor and outdoor areas.

Before having your abode professionally treated, vacuum carpets and articulate toys and clothing from areas to be sprayed. Vacuuming helps straighten fibers and set up the carpet to receive treatment. Plan to stay off treated carpets until sprays have thoroughly dried, usually at least 2 hours.
Inquire the pest command operator to use the to the lowest degree toxic materials necessary to do the job. Use insect growth regulators for long-term control.