There’s a Disney TV show my daughter liked to watch “The Hive”. It is a show about the adventures of a young bee and his family, including Grandma and Grandpa Bee and their pet, Jump. What would be the pet of a bee you might wonder? A flea! Jump in the show is cute, energetic, and friendly, much like a Jack Russell. Unfortunately, the flea in real life bites, spreads diseases, and is a nuisance to both humans and animals, causing severe itching, and aggravating allergies.
A parasite of mammals and birds, fleas are blood suckers. Adult fleas are quite active and irritating, especially when the climate conditions are favourable; fleas prefer humid, warm conditions. Adult fleas may live up to 500 days and can live without feeding for months. The adult female lays 4-8 eggs after each meal of blood, creating a huge population by laying hundreds of eggs during their life cycle.
Most eggs are laid on the host, which is usually your pet or another animal. Flea egg laying often occurs where your pet sleeps and the eggs hatch in 2 – 14 days. The flea larvae are usually small and worm-like, feeding on organic material, crumbs, human skin scale and any debris that accumulates deep in your carpet, pet bedding, floorboard cracks, gardens/lawns and soil in sub floors. Common areas that fleas prefer include the lounge room, bedrooms, lawns, pet bedding, and lounge chairs.
Hygiene plays a huge part in flea management and with good hygiene you will notice a difference. Some ways to help reduce the risk of the flea infestation include regularly vacuuming all areas, and washing your pets & their bedding, using products registered for flea control only. Pay particular attention to vacuuming carpet edges, under furniture, and floors, sweeping first to remove large particles that might be harder to vacuum. After vacuuming, dispose of the waste in sealed plastic bags (if you still have the free bags….).
Wilson’s Pest Control provide a chemical treatment that is done by treating infested areas with products specifically designed to kill fleas.
The treatment will vary depending on the severity of the flea problem and will explain that to you in more details.
We have a variety of applications like dusting, and chemical surface spraying of the lawn, subfloor, internal and external areas and any pet homes. After a flea treatment you will notice a huge improvement in your home weeks.
If you are have a flea problem and you are not sure of what to expect give us a call on 2 9679 8398 and we would be happy to assist.