Those pesky fleas

If you had the capability to jump as well as a flea then – proportionally – you could jump 160 feet high and reach a landing spot 295 feet away. That would make the daily commute a bit quicker!

For their size, fleas are actually the most successful jumpers in the insect world.   This is one reason they can become such a persistent pest if they get that first opportunity to get established in a new host. That could be you, but more likely it’s your pet dog or cat.

Typically, fleas will launch themselves onto our pets outdoors and then snuggle down at the root of hairs close to their skin. Of course, they bite both animals and us to feed off blood. Nasty.

What to look out for

Most pet owners are constantly alert to the telltale signs of a flea infestation and have remedies to hand. But the vast majority of home remedies attack only adult fleas, leaving the larvae and eggs unscathed. That creates the opportunity for the infestation to persist. If the fleas jump across to us and other family members then it is easy for them to hop across to someone else at our school or workplace, spreading the problem widely and rapidly.

Pets suffer much more than people but flea bites on humans are not uncommon. The first sign that you may have an infestation to tackle is that you might notice your dog or cat constantly scratching. But you will know if you have been bitten as itchiness and swelling will occur around the bite – as with all insect bites or stings.

Fleas are vectors for a number of diseases, most notoriously bubonic plague, which they pick up from rats. But they’re more likely to be an issue to pets, as they can transfer parasites like tapeworms. They are more likely to cause an irritant to humans as their saliva can trigger dermatitis in humans, leading to rashes.

What to do

If someone is bitten at home, or at your place of work, then it’s hardly conducive to a good healthy environment, and you need to take action fast.

Active Pest Solutions can implement a thorough flea control and eradication programme. This needs to be extensive in order to totally eradicate the infestation and stop fleas being re-introduced.  It might be necessary to treat several locations, as fleas can be easily reintroduced from outside the workplace.

Another request we receive regularly is from landlords or letting agents who want to re-let a house when the previous tenant has had a cat or dog.  First, we carefully assess the situation and provide a quote. Then we treat the flea infestation three times to clear it completely and ensure the house is safe to re-let to new tenants. We can treat all beds, sofas, carpets, etc. in every room, as pets are usually free to roam the house.

If you have a flea infestation in your home or work premises then don’t wait till it drives you ‘hopping’ mad.  Call in the professionals straight away for expert flea control! Ring us on 01577 862035. Then you can relax while we get on with the important business of sorting out your problem. For more information on fleas and how we can help read here