CONTROLLING FLEAS IN THE HOME
Fleas are found throughout the world and cause misery to humans and animals because of their irritating bites and ability to transmit disease. The species most commonly in the home is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Contrary to what the name implies, cat fleas infest both cats and dogs equally. Fleas can carry or transmit various diseases such as the bacterium that causes bubonic plague. Fleas often cause serious allergies to infested animals and humans.
Flea Control Measures for the Home
To control fleas successfully, you must simultaneously treat your pet and all indoor and outdoor areas likely to harbor them. Expect a much quicker reinfestation if you control fleas in only one area and allow them to remain elsewhere.Various flea products are designed for use in the home, on pets, and outside in the yard. Insecticides for flea control are available as liquid solutions (both concentrated and ready-to-use), aerosols, foggers, and dusts. Follow all label directions carefully.
Vacuuming is very effective at picking up adult and egg-stage fleas. Vacuum carpeting, upholstered furniture and floors. Use vacuum attachments to clean cracks and crevices. After vacuuming, close the bag quickly, place it inside a sealed plastic bag and take it directly to the garbage. Follow this procedure on a regular basis throughout the year to keep developing flea populations low. Unfortunately, vacuuming is less effective at capturing flea larvae in carpeting. Flea larvae concentrate in carpets where pets usually rest or travel. As the pets move about, they shed the dried feces and blood that adult fleas produce while feeding on the pet. The larvae depend on this food for survival. Although vacuuming helps remove this food source, the larvae respond to vacuuming by coiling around the base of a carpet fiber and hanging on. This behavior begins almost immediately after the larvae sense the disturbance. Thus, while up to 59% of flea eggs have been documented as being removed by vacuuming, only about 20% of flea larvae are removed.
Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) are essential to any successful flea management program. IGRs prevent insects from completing their life cycle. IGRs are available as ready-sprays or foggers. They affect the growth of the flea at or before the pupal stage, preventing development to adult fleas for 7 months after a single application. However, IGRs alone do not kill fleas that reach the adult stage before the material is applied. Some IGRs are combined with an insecticide that kills adult fleas and flea larvae. The flea problem will dwindle and then be controlled for 210 days. Because fleas in cocoons are protected, you may want to follow these products with a residual spray for long-term control of adult fleas. back to the list
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