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PESTS:
FLEAS
 Fleas
have been responsible for more deaths than
all the wars put together. They play a
role in spreading various diseases by
passing bacteria between the host and the
humans they bite. Amongst these diseases
is Bubonic Plague, which killed over 200
million people in the 14th
century. Tapeworm are also reported to be
transported by fleas.
Description
- Light
brown to mahogany in colour with a
flattened vaguely oval body shape,
which assists them in moving quickly
through dense hair.
- Ranging
in length from 2 to 8mm
- The
adults are covered with bristles, combs
and a pair of claws at the end of each
of their 6 legs, which assist them in
clinging to their host.
- They
have two simple eyes and a mouth
comprising a sawing and a sucking
part.
- Well
developed hind legs enable fleas to
jump distances of 10 to
30cm.
- Short
antennae allow them to sense heat,
vibration, change of air currents,
shadows and even traces of carbon
dioxide.
Life-Cycle
- Eggs
are oval, white or cream in colour and
measure 5mm in length and they take up
to one week to hatch subject to the
right conditions.
- The
larvae emerge from the eggs with a
sparse covering of hair and are able to
move very quickly even though they have
no legs.
- They
eat skin scales or undigested blood
excreted by the adults.
- For
a period of 1 – 3
weeks the larva undergo a series of 4
moults before pupating in a silken
cocoon which they spin.
- Adults
emerge after 1 – 2
weeks in the right conditions. If the
conditions are not right, they can
remain dormant in their cocoons for
several months.
- Emergence
can be triggered by vibrations, a
situation that often occurs when people
move into an unoccupied home previously
occupied by pet owners.
- Both
male and female rely on blood for food,
but can survive for several months
without it.
- Fleas
crouch low and penetrate the
hosts’ tissue using a
sawing motion of the mouth parts. A
small amount of anti-coagulant is
injected into the opening along with
the saliva to enable the flea to siphon
the blood easily.
- When
a flea is interrupted during a feed it
will merely probe a new spot and carry
on. Between feeds they often drop off
the host.
- The
females use the blood to nourish their
developing eggs and can lay up to 4
eggs after each meal.
- During
their lifetime most female fleas lay at
least 100 eggs.
- The
lifecycle of the flea is several
months.
- Fleas
prefer a warm environment, and breed
mainly in summer. This is when you will
experience flea plagues.
- Fleas
usually bite humans around the ankles
and lower parts of the legs, injecting
saliva into the skin which creates an
itchy red spot.
Treatment
and Control
- Concentrations
of the fleas in egg or larval stages
will be found in areas where pets feed
and rest. Regular cleaning of floors in
these areas is essential as well as
careful washing of blankets and kennels
with an insecticidal preparation is
essential.
- Regular
washing of pets using a controlling
shampoo may help although a vet can
supply small capsules containing a
liquid which is squeezed onto the skin
just behind the head and once absorbed
into the blood stream will control the
fleas for up to a month.
- Continual
re-infestation of the home will
indicate that the source has not been
identified and probably requires the
services of a licenced and reputable
pest controller.
Our 25
years' experience ... your peace of
mind
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Total
Pest Solutions
PO
Box 2083, South Plympton
South Australia. 5038.
Phone 1800 503 394
(08) 8297 4981
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