Fleas

Approximately 1/8 inch long, fleas are wingless, laterally flattened, and have piercing and sucking mouthparts. The flea has well developed legs allowing it to jump at least 6 inches in height. They are typically black to reddish brown in color.

Order/Family

Siphonaptera/Pulicidae

Scientific Name

Ctenocephalides felis / Ctenocephalides canis

Biology

After each and every blood meal, females lay four to eight eggs at a time (approximately 400 to 800 in total within her lifetime) on the host animal and/or in its bedding. The eggs hatch in about 10 days, and the developing larvae feed on the adult flea feces, which contain bits of dried blood.

Behavior

Adult fleas feed on blood with their piercing and sucking mouthparts.  They typically seek a blood meal within two days of becoming an adult. Cat and dog fleas prefer these two animals, but readily feed on other animals (i.e. raccoons, rats and even humans).

Eradication

Effective flea control requires the customer’s cooperation and involves three major steps: on-animal flea control, sanitation and insecticide application. The house should be thoroughly vacuumed to remove larvae, pupae and food materials. The vacuum cleaner bag should be sealed and discarded immediately after vacuuming, and pet bedding should be discarded or washed in hot, soapy water. The pet should be treated (not by the exterminator or by using insecticides) on the same day that a residual insecticide treatment is being done at the home.

Using over the counter products will often cause the fleas to scatter and make effectively eradication of the fleas more difficult to achieve. A professionally trained and licensed exterminator should be used.

Need help with Pest Control or Extermination?

Call A to Z Pest Control at 1-844-ATOZPEST or email us at service@atozpest.com.

A to Z Pest Control services New Jersey and Philadelphia. If you have a problem with Bed Bugs, Termites, Ants, Rodents, Birds, or any other pest please contact us!