Fleas are common household pests that can be difficult to get rid of once they infest our spaces. Small and flightless, these parasites survive by consuming the blood of their hosts, such as mammals and birds. Generally, fleas are a potential problem when pets are in the premises. The main flea species in Australia are cat flea, dog flea, and human flea.
If you suspect you might have a flea problem and need assistance with flea control in Melbourne, Positive Pest Solutions can help you find an effective solution. As a reputable flea exterminator in Melbourne, we can offer total flea protection and elimination.
IDENTIFYING FLEAS
Although fleas are tiny (adult fleas range from only 2 to 4mm), you can still see them with your naked eye. They are wingless, brown in colour and oval-shaped external parasites that can jump more than 200 times their body length. They have small antennae and mouthparts for piercing and sucking. Depending on the species, fleas feed on human and/or animal blood. To effectively deal with fleas, we would need to understand how they breed and grow.
FLEAS AND THEIR LIFECYCLE
Four stages make up the life cycle of a flea: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs are tiny, white and oval-shaped. Adult females lay 4 to 8 eggs in a cluster on the host animal after a blood-feeding. These eggs are commonly found indoors in floor cracks, crevices, skirtings, edges of the rug, furniture and especially pet beddings.
These eggs then transform into a translucent worm-like larva covered in bristles. Larva feed on organic matter such as dead skin, hair, faces of the adult fleas. In the next stage, larvae begin weaving a cocoon and become pupae.
These pupas grow into adult fleas inside a cocoon that sticks to pet hair, carpet, dust, grass cuttings and many more until they sense vibration, pressure, heat, noise or carbon dioxide that signify a potential host and blood source is near.
When adult fleas emerge from their cocoons, they are ready for their first blood feed. They are active, crawling and jumping in hair or fur. Fleas must feed on blood before it is capable of reproducing. Overall, the cycle from egg to adult takes approximately two weeks to eight months. Under ideal conditions, female fleas can multiply to over 1/4 million fleas in just one month!
HEALTH RISKS OF FLEAS
While fleas generally aren’t deadly, they can be a health hazard. Fleas can spread thymus disease, transmit tapeworm larvae, and are also known for transmitting plague from wild rodents to humans. For humans, a flea bite can cause your body to release a chemical known as histamine that reacts to the flea’s saliva. Histamine causes the bite spot on your skin to become red, itchy, and swollen. The more you scratch, the worse it becomes as it can get bigger and itchier.
SIGNS OF FLEA INFESTATION
Apart from living on warm-blooded animals, fleas inhabit other places like furniture, bedding, carpets, and even moist or shaded soil under shrubs. A telltale sign of a flea infestation is seeing them. Fleas cannot fly – they typically hop around on items such as carpets, drapery, or furniture. If you have a pet, you may observe multiple dot-like insects embedded in the animal’s fur. Moreover, your pet may scratch, lick, or bite itself excessively. Animals infested with fleas can become scabbed or experience hair loss in particular areas due to frequent bites.
GETTING RID OF FLEAS
Flea infestations are not easy to eliminate. The first order of business would be to constantly clean the various areas within your home where fleas have been spotted. Vacuuming your furniture and carpets with a disposable bag can effectively eliminate fleas as long as you don’t dispose of the bag within your own home. Washing all bedding is also highly advised. Flea killing sprays can also help kill fleas, but they may not be able to eradicate every single one of them.
When dealing with outdoor areas such as lawns, it is recommended that you increase the amount of sunshine by removing low hanging branches or pruning hedges as fleas enjoy dark environments. Clearing the clutter and removing debris where fleas may be hiding or have lain their eggs will also help reduce the population. Another tactic is to evict or ward off wildlife as some animals drawn to your yard may be potential carriers.
The time taken to get rid of a flea infestation depends on your environment and how long the fleas have been there. It can usually take a few days to a couple of weeks with prompt cleaning and vacuuming. You would also need to give your pets flea treatment.
Prevention is the best solution for flea infestations, but that is not always the case. Fighting a one-person war against flees can feel overwhelming and tiresome. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources and flea treatments at your disposal.
If you see signs of fleas (egg or adult) or experience symptoms of flea bites, such as itchiness at the bite site, a red and swollen lump that develops within half-hour of being bitten, feel free to contact us to confirm if you have a flea problem. At Positive Pest Solutions, we can offer effective flea treatment in Melbourne.
Depending on the severity, we might need to visit your property to identify the stage of the flea life cycle before deciding on a treatment method. Our technician may also need to treat outdoor areas and subfloors. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote for your flea treatment.
