Fleas are most active in the spring, summer, and fall throughout Yardley. Species such as the cat flea, dog flea and human flea can become pests in residences and commercial buildings as well as yards and landscaping.
Why worry about these pests that are not any bigger than a seed? Fleas are not only a nuisance to their hosts, but they can spread serious diseases to both humans and household pets. Preventing an infestation is the best way to keep everyone safe.
Pets may start to itch and become more agitated during this time due to a flea bite. It is important to note changes in household pets both in appearance and mood. It is a good indication there are fleas present in the yard and home. Humans can also experience flea bites from doing yard work, working in the garden, or walking in the garden. Cat fleas are the most common flea type found in yards. However, dog and human fleas are in the area too.
WHAT DO FLEAS LOOK LIKE?
Adult human fleas are larger than cat and dog fleas. Human fleas are approximately 4mm in length. Cat and dog fleas are smaller and are about 2.5mm long.
All flea eggs are about 0.5 mm in length and width. They are oval and have a soft shell that is ivory or off-white. However, the human flea larvae tend to be larger.
Except for size, fleas tend to look alike. They have flat bodies, no wings, six legs, and antennas, and are black to dark brown. Flea bodies tend to have a reddish color after feeding. Fleas have piercing mouth parts to aid in feeding.
WHAT DO FLEAS EAT?
Fleas get their first taste of blood in the larvae stage. During this stage, their mouths have not developed enough to suck blood. However, they eat flea feces, which gives them their first taste of blood. Flea larvae also eat decaying plant and animal matter.
Adult fleas prefer blood over all other food choices. They prefer to have small animal hosts, including dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, squirrels, and ferrets. Human hosts are not at the top of the list, but fleas will use them as a food source if the opportunity arises. Fleas can consume a lot of blood. On average, they consume 15 times their body weight.
WHERE DO FLEAS LIVE?
Fleas do not like being out in the sun. Instead, they prefer humid, dark, cool places. Outside, fleas live in tall grasses, around trees, and shrubs. They like flower beds, areas of loose soil, and decorative gravel. A wooden deck provides plenty of crevices where fleas can hide. Homes with an outdoor water source for pets should check it frequently for fleas.
There are many warm, dark locations in a house for fleas to hide. Flea eggs can fall off pets into floors, carpets, mats, and floor pillows. Flea larvae can live for months in carpets. Upholstered furniture is another favorite living space for the little pests. Wherever pets spend their time, fleas will be spending time there too. Other places where fleas can live include human and dog beds, stuffed toys, wooden furniture, and in the fold of curtains.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY FLEAS
Fleas can cause some household damage. Fleas love to bury themselves in nice thick carpets furniture, and pet beds. The only way to completely rid the house of the fleas may result in the homeowner needing to rip out the carpets or remove the furniture from the home.
ARE FLEAS AGGRESSIVE?
Fleas are not aggressive in the traditional meaning. They do not fly after or attack humans or animals. They are jumpers and can easily hop from host to host, but the jumping does not harm the host. However, fleas are aggressive eaters and do not care where they get their blood. Fleas need blood for reproduction purposes. They have no problem with using both humans and animals as their hosts.
DO FLEAS CARRY DISEASE?
Fleas carry diseases that could be transmitted to humans and pets. Human flea-borne diseases include flea-borne typhus, cat scratch, disease, and tapeworms. Flea-borne typhus is transmitted from infected cat fleas to humans. Infected cats can transmit the cat scratch disease to humans through a scratch or flea dirt. Humans and animals can develop tapeworms by ingesting fleas. Small children and pets are at high risk because they spend most of their time on carpets and floors.
Symptoms of flea-borne typhus start approximately two weeks after contact with an infected flea. Symptoms include body aches, loss of appetite, fever, stomach pain, and a rash that could develop a few days later. The disease is treatable with antibiotics. If the typhus is untreated, a person’s vital organs could become damaged.
Cat scratch disease symptoms include painful lymph nodes, chills, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. A course of antibiotics is the recommended treatment. The diseases could become serious for young children and older adults with underlying problems.
A human may not even know they have a tapeworm. Tapeworm symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, loose stools, and fatigue. Treatment by a doctor is needed to remove the tapeworm from a person’s body.
Dogs and cats can suffer from problems and diseases associated with fleas, including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworm, Bartonella, and anemia. Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis include intensive scratching, skin sensitivity, and hair loss. Weight loss, anemia, vomiting, and parasites visible in the stool are tapeworm symptoms. Bartonella symptoms include fever, weight loss, nose bleed, and anemia. Visit a vet for proper treatment.
HOW TO DETECT FLEAS
Signs of a flea infestation include:
• Itchy, small, red dots on the body. Fleas tend to bite feet, ankles, behind the knees, and legs. • Irritable pets that are itching and biting in one particular area. • Finding flea eggs in the cracks and crevices of the hardwood floor, carpet, and furniture. • Signs of flea dirt. Flea dirt looks like tiny black or reddish-brown dots. To determine if the specks are flea dirt, spray them with water. The water will turn red or brown.
HOW TO PREVENT FLEAS
To help prevent flea issues the following steps should be taken:
• Vacuum the floor and furnishings, and empty the bag into an outdoor garbage can. Next, steam clean carpets and wash curtains. • Change and wash all human and pet bedding regularly. • Keep the grass cut short in the yard. Fleas do not care for too much sun. Remove yard debris to eliminate fleas from hiding places. • Take all pets to the vet for flea prevention treatments and medication.
HOW TO TREAT FOR FLEAS
Moderate to severe flea infestations can prove difficult to eradicate. As such, having the home or business professionally treated may be the best way to remove fleas. Typically a pest control provider will apply both an interior and exterior treatment, utilizing products designed for immediate eradication as well as residual protection against reinfestation.
