Flea infestations often come from a pet dog or cat. The pests attach to the animal when it's outside, and then infest its fur and the places it sleeps indoors. Flea prevention for both the home and yard can be difficult. Without a proactive approach, any pet owner is vulnerable to

Adults are parasites that draw blood from a host. Larvae feed on organic debris, particularly the feces of adult fleas, which contain undigested blood. Fleas commonly prefer to feed on hairy animals such as:

Flea Facts & Information

Q: How serious are fleas?

Flea bites may leave the host with numerous swollen, itchy marks. They may cause allergic reactions in some people and can transmit several diseases. Furry pets are the most at risk. Fleas can bite people and pets and can be a big nuisance. According to a recent CDC statement, the number of illnesses caused by flea bites tripled between 2004 and 2016.

Q: What are the signs of fleas?

Many signs can indicate flea activity:

Q: How do fleas reproduce?

Eggs are not attached to the host. Eggs will hatch in the following places:

Q: How can I keep fleas out?

Employing exclusion practices is important for many pest problems, but exclusion does not have a major, direct benefit for flea control. However, sealing cracks, gaps and holes to help keep rodents or other potential hosts from gaining access into the home is an important indirect way to keep fleas outside.

Protect your home or business from fleas by learning techniques for identification and control.

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Types of Fleas

What do fleas look like?

Fleas are small, wingless and about 2.5 mm long. Their bodies are shiny and reddish brown in color, covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur. Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances. Read more information on what fleas look like.

Cat Flea

Ctenocephalides felis

Dog Flea

Ctenocephalides canis

Sand Flea

Treatment

How do I get rid of fleas?

What Orkin Does

Since the immature stages of fleas are very cryptic by nature, the first thing the homeowner should do is contact their pest control professional for assistance. Most of the time simply using over-the-counter products for controlling fleas will not resolve the root causes of the infestation.

An Orkin Pro will conduct a thorough inspection and locate areas where the immature stages of the flea population are residing. After completing the inspection, the next step is preparing the flea treatment and management plan. This plan will include:

Species - identifying the flea species causing the problem.
Education - explaining the flea's life cycle and how their habits, habitat and behavior affects the control plan.
Hosts - inspecting for the presence of other animals that are the flea population’s source of food. This may include rodents either inside or outside the home or perhaps a raccoon or feral cat that is living in the crawl space.
Vets - homeowner contacting their veterinarian for advice and purchase of flea control products that can be used on pets.
Bathing - regular bathing and grooming of pets.
Chemicals - explaining the use of growth regulators that will interfere with the flea’s normal development into the adult stage.
Vacuum - using a strong vacuum to physically remove flea eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.
Bedding - frequently washing and drying pet bedding.
Products - treating affected areas by using safe and effective flea control products where immature fleas may be located.
Inspections - scheduling a follow-up visit.