Fleas are common pests, but they can still seem mysterious. For example, do you know that tiny fleas springing up from your floor are not baby fleas? Baby fleas can't jump. They are also incapable of biting you. Flea larvae are wiggly worms, not insects that spring through the air. If you see a tiny flea jumping around, it is a tiny species. Some fleas are smaller than others. Details like this can complicate flea control. Today, it is likely that we will change how you look at fleas. We'll tell you how to detect a flea infestation, what to expect from fleas in your home, how pest control in Durham stops fleas in their tracks, and five all-natural tips to prevent future infestations. Here's what you need to know.
How To Tell If You're Dealing With A Flea Infestation In Your Home
There are many ways to detect a flea infestation, but you might not recognize the signs. Some warning signs are subtle. Some grow less subtle the longer you have an infestation.
Watch For Scratching Pets: When you see your dog or cat scratching, it is time to check for fleas. While there are other reasons why your pet will scratch, it is always best to see if fleas are to blame. You can find evidence of fleas by using a flea comb. Check for tiny black blobs moving through fur or hair as you part it. Also, check for a dirt-like substance on your pet.
Inspect Bedding: The likely location an infestation will begin is on pet bedding. Use a flashlight to look for flea dirt or fleas springing up at you. You'll quickly see that you have a problem if fleas are present. These are not subtle pests. Over time, fleas will move from pet bedding to many other areas in your home and start springing up at your from your bathroom, bedroom, and living room floors. We hope you detect them before this happens.
Flea Bites: When fleas get into your home, they will bite you. While they prefer dogs and cats, they readily bite humans. If you miss these tiny pests springing about inside your home, you may notice the bites they leave on your skin. Properly identifying flea bites will provide the evidence you need. If you haven't seen fleas, you might have an infested couch or chair. If so, you'll see bites on your back. When fleas are on the floor, they bite around the ankles because they bite and fall off. They don't take humans as hosts. Finding bites on your back or ankles is a fairly good indication that you have a flea problem, but you may need more evidence. Here are a few ways to distinguish flea bites.
- Fleas bites are typically itchy—maddeningly itchy. You're likely to scratch your flea bites and cause them to have scabs.
- Flea bites are typically intensely irritating. There is likely to be an inflamed rash around each wound.
- Flea bites do not have an ulcer or pustule at the center of each wound. Spiders and fire ants are responsible for pustules and ulcers.
Early flea detection can prevent misery. It can also prevent sickness. Let's take a quick look at how fleas harm pets and people.
How Fleas Can Be Harmful To Both People And Pets
We're only going to touch on this briefly. There is a misconception that fleas just cause itchy wounds. Much of the time, this is true. But as you consider what to do about fleas, you should know that fleas can make you sick. What diseases can humans get from fleas?
- Plague. Yes. The plague is still a thing. While there is a cure for the plague, it is still dangerous. We recommend making yourself aware of the symptoms. Also, keep watch for dead rodents on your property. This is a clear warning sign.
- Fleaborne typhus. You can get this disease by exposure to flea dirt. If you have an open wound, flea dirt can get into the wound and lead to flu-like symptoms.
- Cat scratch disease. You can get this disease from exposure to flea dirt or pet saliva. There are strange symptoms associated with this disease, including temporary blindness.
- Fleaborne parasites. The most common is tapeworms. While these parasites are often passed through the digestive system of humans without issues, sometimes they can cause prolonged sickness.
It is essential to take appropriate steps to arrest a flea infestation and guard yourself and your family against flea diseases. What is the best way to stop fleas?
The Best Way To Completely Eliminate A Flea Infestation
When you find fleas in your home, contacting a licensed pest professional for flea pest control is the best solution. Trained professionals use tested methods and trusted products to arrest infestations. There is no silver bullet for flea control. It is more about the protocol used and less about the products. If you're in Durham, reach out to The Eco Man Pest Solutions. We can help you get rid of fleas fast.
Five Naturally Effective Ways To Prevent Future Flea Infestations
Once the fleas are gone, what is the next step? Flea prevention can help keep fleas off your pets and out of your home. But the way to do this is not as straightforward as you might think. Most people turn to flea colors, powders, baths, and other products designed to keep fleas off their pests. While we certainly recommend doing this, there is more to flea control. Fleas can get into your home even if you have products that protect your pets. A flea can hop on your pet, draw a blood meal and hop off inside your home. In your home, fleas can start to bite you instead of your pets. It is also possible to have mice, rats, and other animals bring fleas into your home. The best solution for flea prevention is not an application of control products. Here are five natural ways to reduce fleas in your yard and stop them before they get inside.
- Remove attractants that bring wild animals into your yard. There are many reasons a mouse, rat, squirrel, chipmunk, raccoon, or some other animal might want to visit you. It is possible that you might provide the reason. Some folks like to put peanuts out for squirrels to eat. Squirrels are far from the only animals that eat nuts. You may hang bird feeders up, but bird seed isn't just for the birds. Consider potential food sources, such as nuts, seeds, fruit, human food, pet food, and other things animals might eat. Removing these food sources or moving them away from your exterior can help you reduce wildlife activity and reduce fleas.
- Protect voids underneath structures. When an animal beds down, the conditions are perfect for fleas to develop from egg to adult. Flea larvae need flea dirt to survive. Flea dirt is the feces of adult fleas. Eggs and flea dirt fall in nests and burrows of animals. You can prevent flea reproduction and development by keeping animals out of the voids underneath exterior structures. Install fencing material to protect voids. During installation, be sure to insert your fencing at least a foot below the ground's surface to prevent burrowing animals from getting past.
- Seal exterior entry points. When rodents are allowed to gain access to your home, they can spread fleas to every level. Use a caulking gun or cans of expanding foam to seal every gap, crack, and hole. Replace screens, weatherstripping, door sweeps, vent covers, and other protective building materials. If you notice that rodents are chewing on wood, apply metal flashing to keep them out.
- Address moisture problems. On a hot day, the sun works to exterminate fleas. When fleas find humid or damp habitats, they stay hydrated long enough to grow into adults. A dry perimeter around your home is resistant to flea development. It is essential to clean your gutters and remove gutter blocks. Doing so will help to prevent perimeter saturation. You should also remove unnecessary plants from your vegetation to help keep things dry. Your plants only need ground moisture; they don't need to be damp. In fact, damp conditions can make your plants unhealthy and bring fungus, mold, and plant disease.
- Build an outdoor recreation area for your furry family members. Dogs can pick up fleas in landscaping, underneath structures, and in vegetation. If you have an outdoor play area, it will not only help to keep wildlife from bringing fleas into that sensitive zone but also keep your dog(s) from picking up fleas in your yard.
Do you see how it works? These all-natural methods make it harder for fleas to develop near your home or get into your home on your pets and wildlife. If you want even more control than this, remember that The Eco Man Pest Solutions offers ongoing pest control service. We can add protection on top of what you're already doing or provide essential control in vulnerable areas. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a service visit.
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