Do I Need Flea Control Service?
What Are Fleas and What Do They Look Like?
Fleas are very small, parasitic insects that depend on drinking a host’s blood to survive. Reddish-brown in color, they blend in easily with their surroundings and can be difficult to spot. Adult fleas are only about 2.5 mm long (the thickness of a US quarter).
Flea larvae are even smaller than adults, hatch from eggs, and crawl around to begin feeding. While adult fleas can’t fly and don’t have wings, fleas are known to jump as far as 200 times their own body length (up to 13 inches!).
Flea bodies are flat and covered in a plated exoskeleton that’s covered in compressed, minuscule hairs. These hairs point away from their heads and help them to crawl easily through a host’s fur. The direction of a flea’s hair also helps to act like velcro when dislodged from the host’s skin.
What Do Flea Bites Look Like?
The most common places to find flea bites on humans are around the ankles and legs. Flea bites appear as small, red dots surrounded by red or light halos and often occur in groups or clusters. They cause quite a bit of itching and discomfort and can even lead to infection and disease. Individuals sensitive to fleas may experience allergic reactions that require immediate emergency medical attention.
What Diseases Do They Spread?
Diseases known to be transmitted by fleas include bartonellosis, plague, typhus, and others. Additionally, fleas are intermediate hosts for tapeworms and transmit them easily from animals to humans.
How Did I Get Fleas?
Fleas, like bed bugs, are hard to get rid of. They can be carried inside by pets, and multiply extremely fast. One flea can turn into thousands in just a short period of time. Although fleas are known for the irritation they cause to animals, they can also feed off of humans as well.
When dislodged from your pet, fleas will jump and search the area for a new host. Oftentimes, the new hosts are the people in your home, and then you have a real problem on your hands. Permanently eradicating fleas from your pets, yard, and home is important to eliminate bites and more serious health risks.
How Can I Detect and Prevent Fleas?
Often, the first indicator of a flea infestation is a pet whose scratching habits have become excessive. If you’re concerned about fleas, start with inspecting your pet’s fur using a flea comb. Next, examine areas frequented by your cat and dog for fleas and flea dirt (flea fecal matter).
If you’re experiencing bites, check for flea dirt and fleas in beds, bedding, area rugs, and carpeting. Walking around in white socks for an hour or two and inspecting them closely can also help with identification.
If you find fleas or evidence of fleas, Senske Pest Control can help.
Get Flea Control for Your House and Yard
If you suspect a flea problem, you’ll need an experienced flea exterminator. Senske Pest Control experts understand the flea life cycle and get rid of everything from flea eggs and larvae to flea adults. Total flea eradication from the home is important to ensure re-infestations don’t happen.
Senske will locate and remove fleas in the house, and find where they’ve been hiding on your property and yard. We’ll estimate how many treatments you’ll need to remove the fleas completely, and always follow up to make sure they’re gone for good.
Flea management is important. If you’ve noticed flea bites or fleas on your cat or dog, contact a Senske Pest Control professional at (877) 944-4007 or click to request an estimate online for FREE.
