Flea Infestation: Signs, Behavior, and Eradication

Signs of a Flea Infestation

Fleas are frustrating at best, and these tiny jumping parasites will cause many problems for you and your pets. Knowing the signs of an infestation helps you gauge when things warrant a call to an exterminator.

1. Excessive Digging

One of the first signs that you have a flea infestation is your pets will dig at themselves. It’s not a regular one-time scratch, either. When a pet has fleas crawling and biting all over its body, it will gnaw and lick its paws and other areas incessantly. They will also rub their body across the floor to get any relief. These pesky parasites nearly drive them crazy.

In severe cases, the animals may tear out their hair in the area. Some animals are allergic to the saliva from fleas, so they will have raised bumps or a rash in the place where they were bitten. Remember that just because you don’t see fleas on your pet doesn’t mean there’s no issue. Fleas are very good at hiding or making themselves scarce when exposed. It’s always best to look behind the ears, in the neck folds, and on the stomach.

2. Bites on Humans

Fleas need a host to feed. Like vampires, they only get their nourishment from blood. While they prefer the blood of pets, they will also use a human as a host. If you notice flea bites on your body, it’s a good indication of a massive problem. Do you let your pets sleep with you?

You may notice that you get bitten anytime you get into bed. Some people have mistaken these small red welts for bed bug bites and called us for an inspection. However, even though the bites look similar, these are two separate insects. Fleas can be just as much of a problem as bedbugs, requiring treatment to control things.

3. You See Them Jumping Around

You can always tell you have a significant flea problem if you see them hopping around your home. If you’re sitting on the couch and a tiny, dark brown insect hops on you, it’s likely a flea. They may jump from your pets to the carpet or furniture.

Since these critters prefer to be in an environment that’s warm and humid, your home is perfect for them to settle down and reproduce. Here’s a simple test to see if fleas thrive throughout your house. Put on a clean pair of white socks and stand in one of your rooms for a few minutes.

The fleas will think your fuzzy socks are a host and quickly hop on them. It’s not necessarily the color of your socks because these parasites usually respond to red more often. In this case, the fleas are attracted to the texture, and the light color makes it easier for you to see them.

Breaking the Life Cycle

You must identify a flea infestation early on, as you want to disrupt the flea life cycle to eradicate the problem. Did you know a flea can lay more than 50 eggs daily? The worst part is that these eggs are often laid into the animal’s fur, but they fall into the carpets, beds, and onto the furniture.

During warm, humid seasons, these eggs may take a day to hatch. In cooler weather or if your house is less sticky, hatching may take up to two weeks. The baby fleas emerge in their larva stage as teeny worms that are almost transparent.

Since they cannot attach to feed on a host, they get their nutrition by eating adult flea droppings. Within 12-14 days, these nasty pests will go into their pupa stage by weaving a silk cocoon around themselves. Depending on the species, the pupa stage can last 72 hours to a whole year.

They will break free of their cocoon as adults and begin their hunt for blood and a mate. Your best bet to eradicate fleas is to kill them and their eggs. Washing clothing and bedding in hot water can destroy the eggs. You can also vacuum frequently to suck them out of your carpeting, floors, and furniture.

Dealing With a Flea Infestation

How do you effectively fight something that you can barely see and is multiplying faster than you can kill it? It’s easy; you call on the experts for help. Fleas reproduce very fast; when you think the problem is under control, another round of eggs will hatch.

It can be a nightmare if you don’t have the proper treatment methods to tackle these pests. To get rid of fleas you need to use a multi-faceted approach. Most people want to throw a pill at their dog or cat and call it a day.

It’s not as simple as taking medication; you must do something with all the fleas inside the home and yard. Medications only stop the fleas from reproducing or killing them once they bite the pet, but the key here is the pet still gets bit. If they have an allergen to fleas, they’ll still have all the itching and rashes. So, you need to go to the source, which is the yard, to treat these issues.

1. Treating Your Pets

Your fur babies provide a warm home and a source of nutrition for these vile pests. Talk to your veterinarian about the best flea medication. Fast-acting medications can deliver quicker results, but 30-day medicines may be better in the long run.

They may also need a medicated lotion to combat allergic reactions. After your pet returns from playing outside, routinely check their bodies for any rogue fleas that came in with them. Use a fine-tooth flea comb to gently comb through their fur and check for bugs, eggs, or spots of fecal matter called dirt.

Regularly launder your furry friend’s bedding and soft toys to kill hidden pests and their eggs. Also, give your pets baths with shampoos that will kill fleas while soothing their skin and nourishing their coat.

2. Treating the Yard

Fleas love warm, humid locations, so it’s only understandable your yard is full of them. Like vampires, direct sunlight is lethal to them, so they stay in shaded areas, such as underneath bushes, trees, decks, or even your lawn furniture. There are numerous chemical treatments available for outdoor use, but there are also plenty of non-chemical methods that are beneficial.

Little things like keeping the grass mowed, doing routine weed control, removing yard debris and clutter, and encouraging natural predators like ants and spiders can all be helpful. Ants and spiders feed on the pupae, so they prevent these fleas from becoming adults. Also, sprinkling diatomaceous earth, called DE for short, around your yard can be beneficial. DE is the powdered fossil remains of microscopic marine life.

It’s entirely safe for people, animals, and the environment, but not for fleas. The tiny particles scratch their exoskeletons, and they dry up and die. DE is inexpensive and easy to find in farming and livestock stores or online. If you want to take care of a flea issue, you should always start in the yard, as it’s the origin of your problem.

3. Treating the Home

Your home is your castle, and fleas aren’t welcome. Their minuscule size and impressive jumping skills make it easy for them to hide. Once inside, they multiply quickly and stay until you kick them out. You can significantly reduce the flea population in your home with persistent vacuuming.

Be sure to vacuum your carpeting, floors, furniture, and curtains. Remember to empty your vacuum cleaner outside so the pests can’t escape. Wash all bedding in hot water to destroy adult fleas and their eggs.

Did you know that some of your favorite essential oils can repel fleas? These include lavender, mint, lemongrass, peppermint, and many others. Add water and essential oils to a spray bottle and spray it around the carpet and any areas where fleas gather. As a word of caution, some essential oils aren’t good to have around your pets, especially tropical birds, and cats. Talk to your vet about scents that are safe for them.

Make a habit of removing your shoes whenever you come indoors. If you don’t like to go barefoot, keep a pair of comfortable slippers next to the door. Not only will this minimize the chances of harboring fleas or other pests, but you won’t bring dirt and microbes into your house.

Calling for Expert Help For Your Flea Infestation

Once you’ve done everything possible and you’re still fighting fleas, it’s time to call for professional help. Avoid store-bought bug bombs and other radical treatments that will likely not work and aggravate the situation. Fleas can quickly become immune to chemicals, which creates a “super flea” that’s challenging to eradicate.

Our professional team has plenty of experience in fighting these bloodsuckers, and we can help you and your pets rest easy. Fleas are dirty and spread disease, and your pet is in danger if they have an infestation and lose too much blood. Call us at the first sign of trouble to avoid costly vet bills and ongoing mental strain.

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