Dreaded by pet owners, fleas are tiny but dangerous pests that can cause life-threatening diseases in both animals and humans. You do not need to own a pet to end up with fleas in your home, as they can hitchhike onto furniture and even humans.
If you suspect that they have made their way into your home, now is the time to learn how to identify them, find out if they need a host to survive, and understand how to deter them best and prevent them from taking over your home. If you are struggling with a flea infestation, Guard Pest Control provides pest control in Everett you can rely on to get rid of fleas for good.
Fleas: Facts and Identification
Have fleas invaded your home? You might be able to identify them with the following flea facts:
- Fleas are insects with six long legs and two antennae.
- Fleas are wingless, but they can jump relatively high.
- They are tiny and can be impossible to see, but an infestation will manifest itself with little pepper-looking dots on your pets’ fur, which could be fleas or, more likely, flea dirt.
- Fleas can be brown, red, or black.
- Fleas need blood to survive.
- Dangerous flea diseases include bubonic plague, murine typhus, tungiasis, and tularemia.
Identifying fleas and flea infestation can be difficult. When in doubt, reach out to a pest control company. More than with most other pests, expert help is needed to eliminate these invasive and resistant pests.
Do Fleas Die Without A Host?
Fleas need a host to survive. Without one, they will not live long. They lay eggs soon after feeding, making them quick to reproduce even when meals are scarce. The larvae and eggs do not require a host for immediate survival and can live a long time without one, sometimes up to half a year. Instead, they can feed off household debris, which provides them with the sustenance they need.
It is best to seek out professional treatments to eliminate these pests at every stage of their life cycle with flea infestations. Even if you get rid of active adult fleas, their eggs are likely waiting to hatch to start a new infestation. Unfortunately, home remedies can’t get rid of fleas on their own.
Is It True That Fleas Burrow Under Skin?
Many species of fleas, such as sand fleas, burrow under the skin. When they do, you will experience symptoms similar to flea bites, including intense pain, possible inflammation, and even lesions if the problem goes untreated for too long. While fleas prefer to live on pets rather than humans, they will do what they can to ensure their survival.
However, common species of fleas, such as dog and cat fleas, will burrow into your pets’ fur and lay eggs there rather than go under their skin. Still, fleas pose significant threats to dogs as they can transmit dangerous illnesses, including heartworm disease, which is life-threatening and will require lengthy and expensive treatments.
Don't Let Fleas Take Over Your Home
The following advice can help to prevent fleas from taking over your home:
- Do not let your pets be in contact with strays and wild animals, and try to limit them to indoor settings whenever possible.
- Check your pets for fleas often, especially if they have long hair. Wash their fur regularly, and watch the signs of flea dirt.
- Make sure that the structure of your home is sound, seal as many cracks as you can, and consider installing fine-mesh screens around windows and doors or replacing them if they are no longer in good shape to prevent fleas from getting in.
- Consider not bringing in old furniture; fleas may already have infested it.
- Schedule regular home inspections, especially if you have had previous infestations.
Preventing fleas from invading is key in preventing infestations. But when they have managed to make their way into your home despite your best efforts, it is time to reach out to a pest control company with the expertise needed to eliminate them.
If you are struggling with a flea infestation, our licensed technicians at Guard Pest Control can help. After a thorough inspection, we will develop a plan to safely and effectively remove your flea problem and prevent it from returning. As with many pests, the best way to get rid of fleas is to combine home remedies with professional treatments.