The Dreaded Flea

If you have pets which many people do–in fact it is estimated that somewhere between 74 to 96 million cats and 70 to 80 million dogs are owned in the U.S.­–than you are familiar with the dreaded flea.  Fleas are those tiny reddish-black parasites that jump and infest the fur of your animals, particularly during the summer months. They survive on the blood of their hosts, of which you and your pet, and other animals end up being. Ranging in size from 1/12 to 1/6 of an inch long, they are very difficult to catch, but there are ways to eradicate them.

Help! Fleas!

When you find an adult flea on your pet, or perhaps your sock or ankle, that one flea means that you have a much larger problem. A single female flea will lay eggs every day until she has yielded up to 200 to 400 eggs. According to studies, the eggs account for 50 percent of the flea population in any one environment (meaning your house), with the larvae coming in at about 35 percent, pupa cocoons 10 percent, and the remaining 5 percent are adults.  That means for every single adult flea you see, there are 10 eggs, 7 larvae, and 2 cocoons, all very difficult to spot, so by the time you see an adult flea, well, like we said…you have a problem.

What To Do

While exclusionary practices can help control many pests, such practices do not have a major effect on fleas. The most effective ways to prevent fleas from getting into your house, or eliminating them from your home, is to use veterinarian-approved flea control products on your pets beginning in the spring. If necessary, area-wide flea-control chemical products are also available. If you need help, give us a call!

ABOUT YOUR CARMEL VALLEY, CA, PEST CONTROL:

Don’t allow pests take over your home or business, let Carmel Valley Pest Control of San Marcos, CA, inspect your residential or commercial property. Highly qualified and licensed, we can give you advice, set up a regular maintenance schedule (if you so desire), and provide effective treatments to keep your home or business in one piece! And we’re not just pest people, we have over 15 years of experience in interior home and business renovation. Whether you need our pest, termite, or renovation services, our focus is on customer satisfaction. Call us today at (858) 350-8838, (760) 736-8838, or (888) 989-8838.