Fleas

Fleas

Latin Name

Order Siphonaptera

Appearance

What do they look like?

  • Size: Fleas are small, wingless and about 2.5 mm long.
  • Color: Their bodies are shiny and reddish brown in color, covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur.
  • No wings: Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances.

How Did I Get Fleas?

Flea infestations often come from a pet dog or cat. The pests attach to the animal when it’s outside, and then infest its fur and the places it sleeps indoors. Flea prevention for both the home and yard can be difficult. Without a proactive approach, any pet owner is vulnerable to an infestation.

Seek a host for a blood

Fleas depend on a blood meal from a host to survive. On some occasions, fleas may become an inside problem when the host they previously fed on is no longer around. Then fleas focus their feeding activity on other hosts that reside inside the home. An example of such a situation is when a mouse inside the home is trapped and removed, the fleas that previously fed on the mouse are then forced to feed on pets or people.

How Serious Are Fleas?

Flea bites may leave the host with numerous swollen, itchy marks. They may cause allergic reactions in some people and can transmit several diseases. Furry pets are the most at risk. Fleas can bite people and pets and can be a big nuisance.

The most serious aspect of a flea infestation is often the time and effort it takes to remove. Dealing with the problem requires treating infected animals, cleaning flea-infested areas, and taking preventative measures to keep the fleas from returning.

How Can I Get Rid of Fleas?

What Zeropest Australia Does

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 Zeropest Australia technician 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 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 Zeropest Australia flea control products where immature fleas may be located.
  • Inspections – scheduling a follow-up visit, Call Zeropest Australia: 1800 38 66 55

Signs of Fleas

Many signs can indicate flea activity:

  • Pets Scratching – A common indication would be pets that repeatedly scratch and groom themselves. This is caused by the discomfort of the flea activity as the adult fleas feed on the pet’s blood.
  • Bites – People also may experience bites which leave behind itchy bite marks (a medical doctor can be consulted, since there are other sources of skin irritation beside fleas).
  • Faeces – Flea dirt, the adult flea faeces, also can indicate activity. Flea dirt looks similar to coarse ground black pepper and may be seen in pet beds, carpets, rugs and other areas where the animal host rests.
  • Adult fleas – Since fleas are relatively easy to see in their adult stage, most of the attention is directed at adult fleas. Adult fleas are usually easy to locate, especially if the homeowner and their pets return to the house after a long vacation or other absence during which the resident flea adults were not able to take a blood meal. Upon returning, the homeowners are often greeted by fleas jumping around and trying to land on them and their pets.
  • Flea Eggs – The flea eggs, larvae and pupae are another situation. Since these stages are much more secretive and much less active, they are found in out-of-the-way places like:
    • behind, under or in furniture
    • in a pet’s bedding
    • inside cracks and grooves in the floors
    • in carpets

Flea eggs that were deposited by the female adult, fall off your pets as they move, allowing them to be disbursed throughout the environment where a pet spends time.

What do they eat?

Adults are parasites that draw blood from a host. Larvae feed on organic debris, particularly the feces of adult fleas, which contain undigested blood.

Fleas commonly prefer to feed on hairy animals such as:

  • dogs
  • cats
  • rabbits
  • rats
  • mice
  • domesticated animals
  • wild animals

Do fleas carry disease?

Yes, fleas can transmit diseases when taking a blood meal from a host or via contaminated fecal pellets.

Reproduction

Eggs are not attached to the host. Eggs will hatch in the following places:

  • on the ground
  • in rugs
  • carpet
  • bedding
  • upholstery
  • cracks in the floor

Most hatch within two days.

Keeping them out

Employing exclusion practices is important for many pest problems, but exclusion does not have a major, direct benefit for flea control. However, sealing cracks, gaps and holes to help keep rodents or other potential hosts from gaining access into the home is an important indirect way to keep fleas outside.

The most effective ways to keep fleas from getting inside the home is to eliminate outdoor flea habitats and outdoor hosts, plus using area-wide Zeropest Australia flea control chemical products and veterinarian-approved flea control products on pets.

  • Dog Fleas (Ctenocephalides canis)
  • Cat Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis)

END OF LEASE FLEA TREATMENT:

It is a very common practice nowadays for your Tenancy Agreement to require end-of-lease pest control. Depending on the special terms in your Tenancy Agreement, you may be required to have a flea treatment, particularly if you have had pets on the property.

Zeropest Australia end-of-lease treatment is carried out after all cleaning has taken place and you are ready to hand the keys back to your agent or landlord. We then provide you with your works completed certificate and AUSTRALIA’S ONLY GENUINE! 100% PEST FREE GUARANTEE*.

Our technicians will make this process as easy for you as they can, particularly since they understand what a busy process moving house can be.

Zeropest Australia offer a complete and comprehensive flea control service that you can highly benefit from. Our end of lease flea treatment will help you receive a 100% bond back when it comes time to leave.

When it comes to flea treatment Zeropest Australia will help you eliminate them using natural, safe, effective products available in the market, you can be at peace because we only choose products that are environment friendly and won’t cause any damage to all surfaces, allergies, or reactions to the new residents of the home.

Our thorough flea treatment is applied to all floorcoverings in the home, Zeropest Australia also treats all area’s outside on your property that your animals have habited.

Customer Preparation for End Of Lease Flea Service:

  • Prior to day of the treatment, vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture including under cushions of upholstered furniture. Vacuum wood and tile floors with special attention to grooves and cracks. Pay special attention to wall/floor junctures and all areas frequented by pets. Seal vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose outside in a covered receptacle. Clean thoroughly all areas frequented by cats, i.e. table tops, window sills, etc.
  • Remove all pets during treatment. Do not let pets return home until after treatment dries approximately for 2 hours. Recommend that pet be treated by a qualified veterinarian.
  • Clean areas around dog houses and other outside areas where pets have access. Maximum effectiveness of treatment will be achieved if lawn is cut prior to treatment.

Call Zeropest Australia NOW! 1800 38 66 55.