Fleas
Biology
Fleas are one of the more important groups of insect pests because they not only cause pain by biting, but can transmit several diseases such as plague (Bubonic Plague) and murine typhus.There are different species such as the cat flea, dog flea, human flea, and rat flea that can be found throughout the United States.
Females lay 4-8 eggs after each blood meal, laying some 400-500 during their lifetime. The eggs are not attached to the hairs or body so they fall freely onto a nest or bedding material. Eggs are normally found where your pets sleeps. Eggs are oval, white, and about 1/64″ long. They usually hatch in 1-12 days.
Flea larvae move about by writhing and wiggling. They have a chewing mouth (but do not bite) and require dried fecal blood in order to complete development. Larvae require high humidity and 1-2 weeks to several months to go through 3 developmental changes. Last developmental change, larvae spin a cocoon and use surrounding debris on its surface which provides camouflage. In the right environment, the pupal stage may last 4-14 days or maybe up to a year under less favorable conditions. The surfacing adult remains in the cocoon for up to 20 weeks, where it is protected from danger, including pesticides; it can survive here for several months on stored body fat. Adults are prompted to emerge from the cocoon by an increase in temperature, carbon dioxide, and possible vibrations.
Feeding Preferences
Adults begin to feed on a blood meal on the second day after hatching.
Transmitted Diseases
Fleas are know to be carriers of the diseases causing both plague and murine typhus. Fleas can also serve as an intermediate host for the tapeworm. These tapeworms may infest humans and pets.
Habits
It is not necessary to have pets in your structure in order to have a flea infestation. Fleas can be present even if the structure has been vacant of animals and people for as long as 6 months. This can happen for a couple of reasons; a potentially long pupal period, adults can live for months without food, or because fleas have not been removed by normal vacuuming. Fleas are normally removed from the interior environment by taking up residence on the pets. Fleas are typically found where animals sleep or frequent. Normally, larvae and pupae will be found in similar places but especially in areas with high moisture which is necessary for their survival. Such places include both indoor and outdoor environments. Fleas are also found on other urban hosts such as rabbits, skunks, opossums, rats, cats, and dogs.
Flea larvae die in humidity below 45% and above 95%. Larvae fail to develop at temperatures below 55 F. and at or above 95F.
Structural Pest Flea Program
Our service technician will perform a thorough inspection on the exterior and interior of your structure to locate all problem areas and properly identify the pest you are having.
All programs are specially designed to target the pest that is infesting your structure.