Flea Facts
Understanding Flea Problems
The more you know about fleas, the better you can predict and control their behavior. Here are some quick facts to help you on your way.
Protect your home or business from fleas by learning techniques for identification and control.
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.
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.
The more you know about fleas, the better you can predict and control their behavior. Here are some quick facts to help you on your way.
Fleas can transmit diseases when taking a blood meal from a host or via contaminated fecal pellets. Read more about flea-borne diseases.
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We will help you find the right treatment plan for your home.