Notice your furry friend is itching more than normal? That very well could be a flea issue. Fleas are small, wingless parasites that are about 2.5mm in length, and are capable of jumping long distances. Infestations often come from a pet dog or cat, and they depend on the blood meals to survive. Fleas can attach themselves to the animal when they’re outside, and then infests the fur as well as the places they sleep indoors. When it comes to treating for fleas it is essential that the animal be treated, as well as the home and yard. This way you can guarantee the issue has been taken care of.
Fleas can become even more of an inside problem when the original host is no longer around, this is because now they need to focus on other hosts in the home. When a flea bites you, it can leave numerous swollen, itchy marks. It may even trigger an allergic reaction, and can transmit several diseases. Fleas are the most common transmitter of the rare bubonic plague, as well as the bacterial disease murine typhus to humans through infected rats. They can even transfer tape worms and cause anemia in pets. Even though furry pets are most at risk they can still bite people.
Signs of fleas include: pets scratching, bites, feces, adult fleas, and flea eggs. Flea eggs can hatch within 2 days, and can consume 15x their body weight in blood per day. They can live for about 100 days, and during this lifespan females can produce up to 2,000 offspring. The most common flea being the cat flea, though despite the name they can feast on cats, dogs, and humans.
They can be transferred to new environments by hitchhiking onto other animals or belongings. This is very easy for them because they have the ability to jump vertically up to about 6-8 inches high. When they get inside your home they will usually hide where pets and people sleep, and no one likes unwanted bugs crawling on them!
If you’re finding an infestation of fleas tormenting your pets and family it is always best to call a professional. Here at Palm Coast Pest Control we are here to guarantee the job!
