Flea Facts: Keep These in Mind
When Dealing With Fleas
Pet lovers don't just think about fleas, they worry about them. The thought of an infestation concerns many people because they don't understand these common pests.
While flea prevention is always the best policy, they can be exterminated if an infestation ever does develop.
This article provides some information about fleas and how to control and prevent them. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses is half the battle.
1. Fleas can multiply very quickly, which makes getting rid of them more difficult.
One adult can lay 50 eggs in a single day. Of course, the conditions need to be right for eggs to be laid.
Adults cannot lay eggs without fresh blood from a host first.
2. Their eggs are very small, and typically laid in bunches of about 20 eggs. Each egg is white in color and oval shaped.
They're small enough that they can fall into the surrounding environment, including cracks in floorboards, wherever the host may roam, scratch, play or lay down.
3. Adults are very small. Some are as tiny as 1/16 of an inch. They typically don’t grow any larger than 1/8 of an inch. This makes them hard to find on pets with lots of hair.
4. Even though they're small, they can certainly get around. Their specially formed hind legs are specifically designed for jumping. They can jump vertically 7 inches (18 cm) and horizontally 13 inches (33 cm).
5. They cannot fly as they do not have wings.
6. Adults are parasites that consume the blood of their hosts. This type of blood diet is often referred to as hematophagy. Removing them from their source of blood (the host, human, pet or other animal) is only one step in their prevention and control.
7. In addition to being pests, they are often a vector of transmission for many serious diseases to their hosts. They have been known to transmit the bubonic plague, tapeworms and even protozoans.
They can also cause a skin condition called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). This is another reason why they should be understood and prevented in and around the home.
8. They eat differently during each stage of their life cycle. Adults dissolve skin with saliva to suck the blood of their host. Their larvae do not eat the host's blood, but instead consume its feces and dead skin and hair.
9. There are many different methods that can be effective for eliminating the pests. Low humidity and cold temperatures (less than 70 degrees F, 21 degrees C) can reduce the number of eggs that will survive to maturity by as much as 95%. Temperature and humidity control combined with pest control methods can be very effective at killing them.
10. They have 4 stages to their life style (egg, larva, pupa and adult). Different extermination methods are more effective in certain stages than others. Therefore, the best approaches involve a variety of different methods including bombs, collars, sprays and powders.
You don't need to live in fear of fleas. Ridding your home and your pets of them is possible if you know which approaches to use. Understanding the flea's needs and weaknesses at each stage helps when making a thorough and effective prevention or extermination plan.
This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult with a veterinarian before starting any flea control program. S/he can provide the best information for you and your pets about flea prevention and flea eradication in your area.
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