Identify Pest: Flea Infestation, Flea Bites and Flea Problems

A flea infestation is no small problem. Fleas are blood sucking parasites that give painful, itchy bites and spread disease. They are especially prevalent in the New York area in the months of June through October, but they can persist indoors year round if there is a host for fleas to feed upon.

Identifying Fleas

Adult fleas are insects that are a dark shinny brownish color, about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long, that are sort of flattened laterally, wingless, and with hard bodies that make them very difficult to crush. Fleas have large rear legs that allow the flea to jump great distances for its tiny size. A flea can travel anywhere from a distance from seven to thirteen inches in one jump. A flea lays about 20 eggs per day. When the larvae mature they remain in a cocoon until they detect vibration or pressure. They hatch and then jump onto their new host.

Flea Problems and Flea Infestation Risks

Fleas primarily feed by sucking the blood of animals with its specialized piercing mouth parts. Outdoors Fleas host on rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, foxes and other warm blooded animals. Indoors, they feed on your pets–and you! These parasitic insects are known disease carriers, linked to  allergic dermatitis, tapeworm and a variety of bacterial infections. They are much more than an annoyance but can pose a serious health risk to people and pets.

How to Know if You Have a Flea Infestation

Fleas usually enter your home on pet. If your cat or dog seems to be scratching incessantly, you may have fleas. On animals with dark, thick hair, finding fast-moving fleas can be difficult. Take your pet to a veterinarian for a professional flea dip. Your vet can also check for common bacterial infections and tapeworm at the same time. If you have found rodents in your home, it is very likely they brought fleas and disease in with them. You may also discover a flea infestation when they start attacking you. Welts on your lower legs are caused by fleas who bite you as you walk in your home. Bites elsewhere usually happen when you are sleeping. In any case, if you have fleas, you have a significant problem that will take multiple steps to eliminate.they

How to Get Rid of Fleas

Controlling a Flea problem requires a simultaneous coordinated effort of identification, inspection, evaluation, manual removal and control, sanitation, the use of targeted biologicals, and chemical controls to kill fleas in all stages. While your pet is at the veterinarians for its flea dip, treat your entire home and car to kill adult fleas and their eggs. Treating your pet’s bed–and yours–is vital. Consider green treatments such as Cryonite that freeze and kill fleas and eggs without chemicals and without damaging bedding. Make sure your pet gets treated with a long-term flea protection product such as Frontline and close off points of entry.

Knockout Pest Control Can Knock Out Fleas

Knockout Pest Control is your local expert at knocking out fleas–and we keep them down for the count. Every member of our team receives over 100 hours of classroom instruction and in-the-field training so you are guaranteed a knockout punch to your pest problem every time. We serve all of Long Island, New York City, and Westchester and Rockland Counties. Call 1-800-244-PEST or 1-800-244-7378 We respond like every pest problem is an emergency with fast, 24 hour service seven days a week. We don’t have the big red boxing glove in our logo for nothing!