Common Pests - Fleas

Common Pests

Fleas

Fleas are usually found on cats, dogs, carpets, furniture, dusty floors, sandy sub-floor areas and even grassy areas. Although the common names, cat flea and dog flea, would suggest that a particular species of flea is specific to one host, this is not the case and either of the abovementioned species can be found "biting" various hosts including humans.

The body of an adult flea is laterally compressed, enabling them to move quickly and easily through dense hair or fur, and each of the six legs has a pair of claws at the tip to enable them to remain attached to the host regardless of scratching. The hind legs are well developed to facilitate jumping onto a passing host.

Fleas are found only on warm blooded animals, and both male and female adult survive on blood meals. The female adult flea generally takes a blood meal prior to egg laying. She can lay several hundred eggs during her lifetime, these eggs turn into white legless larvae which feed on food debris, human skin scales and undigested blood secreted by the adult fleas. After several weeks, the eggs pupate in a silken cocoon where they remain for 7-14 days. The adult flea emerges from this cocoon and attaches itself to a host ready to start the cycle again.

Adult fleas do not spend their entire time on the host and often drop off between feeds.

When a flea infestation occurs in a domestic residence, the bites are usually observed on the ankles and lower parts of the legs as small red spots, which due to the injection of flea saliva at the time of biting to prevent the blood coagulating, can cause severe irritation to the host.

The role of fleas in the transmission of various diseases is well documented, and some of the more common diseases attributed to fleas are bubonic plague, where the bacteria is transmitted between rats and humans by the flea, and also murine or endemic typhus. Tapeworms may also be transmitted by fleas.

Fleas prefer warn humid environments and breed mainly in the warmer months, hence flea plagues usually occur during summer especially outdoors.

Before any treatment takes places the premises should be carefully cleaned, especially under furniture and carpet edges. Upholstered furniture and areas where pets rest or sleep should be given special attention. All vacuumings should be burnt or sprayed with an aerosol to kill off fleas and larvae present.

Pet bedding should be washed or replaced and the pets given a flea wash. Your local veterinarian will advise you of the best product to use.

Grassed areas need to be cut short at least 1-2 days prior to the application of chemical spray.