Fleas
Fleas are one of the most frequently encountered and most
troublesome pests that attack humans and their pets. Fleas are small
reddish brown wingless blood-sucking insects. Their bodies are
flattened from side to side allowing easy movement between the hairs of
your pet. Legs of a flea are long and readily adapted for jumping. A
flea has mouthparts that are readily adapted for sucking blood.
The adult flea may attack a variety of warm-blooded
animals including dogs, cats, humans, chickens, rabbits, squirrels,
rats, mice, etc. The female flea must have a blood meal in order to
develop and lay eggs. Fleas may lay up to 500 eggs over a period of
several months. Eggs hatch in 1-12 days. Larvae avoid light and feed on
particles of dead matter in the area. Within 7-14 days, flea larvae
will pupate. The cocoon of the flea pupae will emerge in 5 days to five
weeks if a host is present. The adult flea immediately begins its
search for blood.
Flea control must involve two things to be successful.
First, the pet must be treated to prevent fleas from living on the
host. Second, the premises must be treated to eradicate the non-adult
stages of the flea and to prevent reinfestation of the pet. A proper
communication between the homeowner and pest control professional and
thorough preparation of the premises before treatments are rendered is
important to flea control.
BEFORE THE TREATMENT
- Vacuum
all rugs, carpets and furniture - especially between and under
cushions. Then seal and dispose of the vacuum bag in an outside
receptacle.
- Clean and clear all floors, even closet floors. Mop all tile and vinyl floors. Sweep all concrete floors.
- Remove all pets. Fish bowls and aquariums may remain if properly covered and the aerator is shut off during treatment.
- Wash or dispose of all pet bedding. If laundering, wash pet bedding separately from other items.
- Show your pest control professional where pets sleep, eat and rest.
AFTER THE TREATMENT
- Follow the specific instructions of your pest control professional to find out when you can return to your home.
- Resume normal vacuuming 24 hours after your home has been treated to give the insecticide time to work.
- Continue
vacuuming every 3-4 days for two weeks. This will improve the
effectiveness of the insecticide by stimulating unhatched fleas to
emerge from their protective pupae cases.
Don't be alarmed if you continue to see fleas for up to two weeks after
treatment. These fleas are newly hatched from their protective pupae
cases. Once exposed to the insecticide residual, they will also be
eliminated.
Allgood Pest Solutions provides Pest Control and Termite Control
for Georgia including Atlanta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta, Roswell,
Duluth, Suwanee, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Dalton, Macon, Dublin,
Sandersville, Vidalia, Douglas, Savannah, McRae, Milledgeville,
Swainsboro, Brunswick, St. Mary's.
For more information about the pests that Allgood Pest Solutions can control at your home, please click on the following links: