How to get rid of ticks and fleas in house
THE FOUR STAGES OF THE FLEA LIFE CYCLE
Flea control products only affect fleas once they are out of the pupae stage.
Adult
When they emerge from the pupa (cocoon) stage they are small and flat, this is because they have not taken their first blood meal. They can stay like this for up to 2yrs or more before taking their first blood meal surviving on flea faeces and discarded skin particles. Once they have had their first blood meal they need to feed every 4-6 hrs, each feed lasting 4-7 mins. The adult flea will normally leave the pupa (cocoon) stage at about 7-10 days in the right conditions. If the temperature and humidity are suitable and they sense a small vibration, such as a passing host, they will be stimulated to leave sooner.
Pupa (cocoon)
The cocoon is formed by the larvae secreting a sticky substance which they mix with any local debris so as to blend in with local surroundings, this affords protection from the chemical forms of flea treatment for the larvae/flea inside the cocoon. It is inside the cocoon that the change into an adult flea takes place. This process take between7-10 days if the conditions outside the cocoon are OK. If the temperature and humidity are not suitable then they can stay dormant for a long time, only emerging when temperature and humidity are high enough or they sense any vibrations.
Larva
Larva are maggot like in their appearance, they have a single row of bristles on each side of their body which are used for moving about. Larva moult through 3 stages lasting from 6-36 days, depending on temperature and humidity. Each stage emerging longer than the previous one. The spine on the larva head used to break out of the egg stage is lost in the first moult. During this stage of their life cycle they feed on “flea dirt”. Flea dirt is the adult fleas excrement resulting from feeding on the blood of the host. You will see flea dirt as small dark specs when using a flea comb or being dropped from an infected hosts coat when getting up from laying down. Larvae rely on flea dirt to be able to survive. Larva are sensitive to sunlight and avoid sunny areas, so they will usually be found in the more shaded areas.
Eggs
You would normally expect to find flea eggs in the areas most frequented by a host i.e. in the hosts housing, favourite resting place and bedding. The larvae emerge 2-6 days after the adult female lays her eggs. An adult female can lay on average 31-46 eggs per day and an average 300-800 throughout her lifetime. Egg laying starts approximately 2 days after taking her first blood feed. The eggs are oval in shape and smooth, they are about 1/64'' of an inch long and visible with the naked eye.
Flea control against indoor infestation
The number times you will find it necessary to treat fleas in your home will depend upon how bad the infestation and how thorough each treatment is. A mild infestation of fleas in your home possibly only needs one treatment, whereas, a medium to heavy infestation of fleas in your home will probably need several treatments.
Thoroughly vacuum all floors, carpets, skirting boards, furniture, including between the cushions, the floor underneath and any pet bedding . This vacuuming removes fleas and eggs, and the vibration also stimulates the pupae to hatch from the cocoons . You should vacuum before starting the treatment and start vacuuming again 24 hours after the treatment. Daily vacuuming for two to three weeks after treatment will ensure the elimination of fleas in your home. Take extra care when discarding the vacuum bag by placing it into another container that you can seal securely to prevent any escaping and reinfecting. For pretreatment on hardwood floors, start by vacuuming the floors and skirting boards, then spray the floor paying special attention to all cracks, crevices and skirting boards. Spraying is preferred to using foggers as they are not as effective because the fog will not reach underneath large pieces of furniture i.e., sofas, beds, tables, etc.
The first treatment should include a spray with a quick knock down insecticide such as Permethrin mixed with an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator), such as Nylar or similar products. Then after 24 hours begin daily vacuuming. The insect growth regulator will take about three weeks to gain complete control of the eggs, it is possible for some adults to emerge during this period. The IGR will inhibit the development of the eggs and larvae, and the insecticide will kill the adult fleas in your home. Any cocoons remain unaffected and will eventually hatch within 7-10 days under normal conditions. The cocoons require the correct temperature and humidity and vibration in order to hatch. When the adult fleas emerge, it will require another treatment of insecticide to eliminate the newly-hatched adult fleas. This is why there is a need for additional treatments. Re-spraying with Permethrin will get rid of the newly emerged adults. Continue with daily vacuuming for about two to three weeks. A mild infestation may not require more than one treatment, depending on how thorough the first treatment was.
How To Protect Your Pets From Fleas
Killing fleas is a vital, task that pet owners must do if faced with an infestation in the home. Flea bites can take up to two weeks to heal. When the flea bites it injects flea saliva into the host bloodstream, the saliva contains a substance that can cause an allergic reaction to many people, getting a flea infestation under control quickly is necessary to prevent reactions from those who have an allergy. Flea bites can also transmit some diseases from host to host when taking a blood feed. If you have been bitten and have symptoms of fever, or the flea bite persists for more than two weeks, you should get medical advise from your doctor immediately, as you may need special medical treatment. There are several tactics that you can use when killing fleas. With so many different treatments available, the method you use depends on whether or not you are willing to use toxic chemicals for killing off the fleas. Borax and flea foggers are common toxic regimes used to get rid of fleas. If you have any doubts always get advise from a professional.
If you decide on a safer methods for killing fleas, you must understand that it will require more time to get the flea biting under control and get it to stop. You can use such products as Advantage and Front Line to kill off the fleas. These will more or less turn your pets into flea killing machines. By continually using these products, you should see satisfactory results within two to three months.
Understanding the life cycle of the flea is critical in process of killing fleas. A flea infestation is not officially over until the last egg has died, you will need to know that a fleas eggs can last up to two years without the larvae emerging, treatments should not cease until two and a half years after the last flea bite has occurred then it is considered safe to halt treatments. Treatments with flea foggers and Borax soap may not kill the pupa within the eggs, therefore, you can treat a room and not kill all of the eggs and so run the risk of re-infestation if treatment is stopped to soon.
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