Why is it so Difficult to Get Rid of Fleas?

Anyone who has had the unpleasant experience of attempting to control a flea infestation in their home will tell you what an uphill battle it can be. Getting rid of fleas is never easy. Fleas can survive without a host for many months. It is a result of their life cycle. Fleas have four life stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult.

Flea Eggs

• Rapid reproduction – females lay eggs after feeding on their host. Female fleas lay up to 40 eggs per day, and as many as 2,000 throughout their lifespan.
• Flea eggs do not stick to your pet’s fur, therefore they fall off into your soft furnishings, e.g. carpets and furniture, where they develop. This means that treating your pet alone will not stop the infestation; you must also treat your environment
• Hatching can take days or weeks, depending on the climate; ideal temperatures for fleas are between 21-29⁰C. Whilst flea infestations can happen at any time of year, these jumping pests find it easier to complete their life cycle in warmer climates, therefore it is best to be extra vigilant at this time of year. Below freezing temperatures will kill adult fleas, but fleas in different stages of the life cycle simply become dormant

Larvae

• Eggs hatch out into larvae, which feeds on pre-digested blood from adult fleas. This is often known as, “flea dirt”.

Common flea like pests.

Pupae

• Pupae are protected in a cocoon. This stage can last for days, weeks or years, until an unsuspecting host walks by!  As pupae can survive dormant for such long periods of time, it is possible that your current infestation was a dormant infestation lying in wait for favourable conditions.
• Adult emergence from the cocoon depends on the environment, e.g. warmth, humidity, and vibrations. The cocoons are sticky and are not easily removed from carpets and furniture by vacuuming

Adults Fleas

• Adult fleas can live on your pet, feeding on its blood, for several weeks. During this time, the female begins laying her eggs, perpetuating the infestation cycle.
• Adult fleas are only 5% of a flea infestation – 95% of your flea problem is too small to see!
• The flea life cycle can take fourteen days, making a continuous infestation if not successfully treated.

How to kill Fleas and How to Get Rid of Fleas

Whilst these external parasites are tiny, they can lead to a big problem. Flea bites can cause itching, soreness, rashes, and allergies. Scratching the bite area can damage the skin and cause bacterial infections. Their size can make them hard to spot until an infestation has taken hold and the flea’s life cycles are well underway.  The only way to successfully kill fleas is to break the life cycle, treating your pets and the environment. Avon Pest Control recommends contacting a profession pest control company to ensure the cycle is broken.

If fleas are flourishing in your home, call Avon Pest Control today on 01926 632 929 or 01789 293 463 or click here for more contact information.

Our qualified, responsible technicians will happily discuss your pest problem and provide friendly, expert advice.

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