Super Fleas
Pet
lovers report a surge in the number of fleas infesting their pets.
Some are worried that a Super Flea has built up a
resistance to their standard treatments. But warm, wet summers and
mild winters are more likely to be the cause experts say and coupled
with improvements in household insulation, which provide warm, humid
conditions all year round, these will allow the flea population to
thrive.Fleas
are a common problem in homes with cats,dogs or other such pets. They
are also often found in homes that previous occupiers had had pets,
when the house is taken over by it's new occupants.Flea pupae can
remain dormant for two years or more, if conditions are not favorable
or there is no food supply i.e. no warm blooded creatures to attack.
They would be awoken by the vibrations of the footsteps of the new
occupants moving about the house. It is very common for a flea
infestation to remain dormant, in the pupa or cocoon stage of it's
life cycle, in an empty home only to be stirred into action when
people move in. This can be as long as two or more years.Possibly the
first sign that there are fleas present will be seeing flea bites,
the most common place for flea bites are the feet and lower legs.
There are usually many more fleas living on carpets, they will jump
up and bite peoples lower limbs as they walk around.
Flea Life Cycle
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When
dealing with flea infestation,
you have to know the life cycle of the flea and depending on the
stage at which you first encounter them will determine which form of
treatment it is best to use.
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Eggs
and Flea larvae
Using
insect growth regulators at this stage of the Flea Life Cycle can
only effect flea eggs and flea larvae, by preventing them from
becoming adult fleas.
They
will not kill fleas that are in their protected pupal casing. The
pupal case or cocoon is watertight and therefore not effected by
Insecticidal flea treatment. This is probably the hardest and most
frustrating part of the flea life cycle to deal with and is the
reason why your need to understand that the dormant stage of the flea
life cycle is so important from a pest control point of view.
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Methods
For Controlling Flea Pupae.
You
cannot assume that as soon as a home or lawn has been given flea
treatment, you will not see any more fleas. Insecticidal flea
treatments will kill adult fleas that are in contact with the spray
and insect growth regulators will only effect flea eggs and flea
larvae.
Once
your home has been given flea treatment that destroys the eggs and
larvae, the next stage is for you to get rid of as many pupae as
possible. Inside the cocoon there will either be fully adult fleas or
fleas and larvae that have been affected by IGR (insect growth
regulator) spray previously used.
Using
your vacuum cleaner on all areas such as carpets, rugs, floors and
furniture will accomplish two important jobs:
- It will pick up pupae that can be disposed of in a sealed garbage receptacle outdoors . Great care should be taken when disposing of the vacuum contents so that no adult fleas can escape. Placing a piece of flea collar in the vacuum bag or cylinder will help in this.
- Its vibration entices adult fleas to hatch and so come into contact with the areas you have treated with Insecticidal flea treatment spray. You will need to continue treating your whole house with insecticidal flea treatment to completely get rid of any fleas remaining in your house, as well as preventing those developing ones from continuing to reproduce.
At
the pupae stage your vacuum has become your most effective tool for
removing the pupae.
Boric
acid/Borax, are naturally occurring compounds.
Boric
acid is an odourless white solid at room temperature. Borax exists at
room temperature as either a solid or thick liquid and has a pale
yellow colour.
Boron is used in a combination of common elements, such as sodium to make salts like Borax and with oxygen to make Boric acid.
Boron is used in a combination of common elements, such as sodium to make salts like Borax and with oxygen to make Boric acid.
Both
are natural and increasingly popular insect control products. Unlike
hornet or ant sprays, they do not kill bugs on contact using highly
deadly chemicals. Rather, they act as a desiccant that dehydrates
many insects, including Fleas, by causing tiny cracks or fissures in
their body covering. This eventually dries them out. The “saltiness”
of boric acid also interferes
with their very simple metabolism.
Washing pet bedding every week, ideally at above 50°C to kill fleas.
Care should be taken when moving bedding to avoid dropping adult fleas or eggs that may be on them.
Consider placing pet beds in areas without carpets such as on wooden floors because fleas absolutely love a nice bit of carpet to hide in.
Adding
a half cup to a load of stinky dog blankets along with detergent will
have you swear your dog hasn't laid on them before.
While
they are non toxic and easy to use, it's still not a good idea to
inhale them.
How
to Apply
You
will need a shaker, big jar with holes poked through the lid works
well. A face mask that covers nose and
mouth to prevent inhalation. Remove all animals from the room.
A
stiff broom and your vacuum cleaner, a piece of flea collar in the
vacuum bag or container is a good idea to deal with any fleas that
you might pick up when you give the room a thorough vacuum before
applying the powder/granules to the carpet. Don't forget to move
couches and chairs to apply underneath them.
Next,
with the broom brush the powder/granules deep into the carpet pile,
this is where the fleas, at various stages, will be hiding.
The
combined vibrations of the vacuum and the brushing will encourage
flea larvae to hatch and to be killed off.
Boric
Acid and Borax work by grazing the body covering of the insects, in
this case fleas, allowing the powder to dehydrate them. It also
disrupts their nervous system.
Since
its Natural, its Safe, Right?
Yes
and no. It is a lot better than chemical pesticides and lasts
longer.
It
won't cause skin irritation but care should still be taken to make
sure it is not be eaten or inhaled by humans or pets. If you have
brushed it well down into the carpet inhalation should not be a
problem.
After
a few days vacuum again to pick up what's been killed, not forgetting
to put a piece of flea collar in the vacuum bag or container to deal
with anything that may still be alive when you vacuum.
Great
care should be taken when emptying the container or disposing of the
bag, it only take one female adult to escape to start an infestation.
On
bare floor boards concentrate on getting into any gaps between them
and wipe off any excess from the floor surface.
Property
that has been empty for some while can still have a flea infestation
just waiting to happen.Flea pupae can remain dormant for two years or
more, if conditions are not good or if there is no food supply i.e.
no warm blooded people or pets to attack.They will become activated
by the vibrations of the footsteps of the new occupants moving
abound the house. It is very common for a flea infestation to remain
dormant, in the pupa or cocoon stage of it's life cycle, in an empty
home only to be stirred into action when people move in.
They
have an ability to go into a sort of suspended animation.
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Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous
Earth is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by
one-celled plants called Diatoms.
Diatomaceous earth
food grade is not harmful to humans or household pets as it
is a superior grade and contains very little crystalline silica
which is harmful when inhaled.
Are
there any safety concerns with DE?
Yes,
you must
wear a dust mask when using it as it can irritate the mucous
membranes. Once the DE dust has settled it won't trouble you. The
constant breathing of any dust should he absolutely avoided.
Diatomaceous Earth As A Pest Control
Diatomaceous
Earth makes a very effective natural insecticide due to the razor
sharp edges of the diatom remains.
When
it comes in contact with the insects, the sharp edges lacerate the
insects waxy body covering allowing the powdery Diatomaceous Earth to
absorb the insects bodily fluids causing death from dehydration. As
Diatomaceous Earth works in a purely physical way and not a
‘chemical’ way it has no chemical toxicity. Therefore Fleas and
such like can’t build up a tolerance/immunity to it.
It
is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help
control and eventually eliminate an insect infestation, including
Fleas.
Medical-grade
Diatomaceous Earth is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and
humans.
To kill adult fleas a treatment containing an Insect growth regulator should be used. You want to take that and spray all of the skirting boards, floor boards, all the furniture legs of all the different tables and chairs and couches and things like that. Make sure you spray the bottoms very very well. Also, you want to make sure that the outside area is taken cared of, no good having a flea free zone inside if you or your pet can carry them back in every time you go outside.
See Also:
