Fleas

Fleas are considered a super athlete in the insect world because of their ability to jump 100 times their height. However, this little fun fact probably doesn’t bring many smiles to pet owners faces or even those who don’t own pets for that matter. Many of us know how annoying this pest can be. Jumping and biting our legs and causing our pets to go insane.

The cat flea is the most common pest associated with dogs and cats and will spend the duration of their life cycle on the host. These biting pests feed on warm blooded creatures, and like most biting pests, cause itching and discomfort. Fleas can also serve as a host to their own pest, tapeworms. For those that don’t own pets, it should be noted that wildlife can be the source of flea infestations.

The best defense against fleas is a good offense. Fleas can lay 20-50 eggs per day, which means an infestation can get out of control very quickly. Prevention and monitoring can go a long way when it comes to flea control.

Below is a profile of the cat flea and ways to prevent this pest from infesting your property.

Fleas

Identification
  • Adult cat fleas are 1-2 mm in length and typically reddish brown to black in color.
Behavior
  • Fleas feed on the blood of warm blooded animals. 
  • Their primary hosts are cats, although they will feed on dogs, humans and mammals and birds. 
  • A female flea can consume up to 15 times her bodyweight each day.
Habitat
  • Adult fleas use tarsal hooks to attach to their host animal, commonly a cat or dog. Fleas are found on or near the bedding area of the host animal.

Life Cycle

(Gradual or Incomplete Metamorphosis)
  • Complete Metamorphosis
  • 36-48 hour after females have a blood meal, they will then lay approximately 10 eggs, each 1/50 inch long and white in color.
  • They will hatch out into larva in typically 2-10 days. 
  • Larva go through three instars. The larval stage goes from 3 weeks to 3 months, depending on environmental conditions.  
  • Fleas then form a cocoon to become a pupa, a phase that can last as little as a week or several months if they need to overwinter. 
  • The cocoons must be stimulated through the presence of a host via movement, heat or carbon dioxide before they can emerge as adults. 
  • From egg to adult can happen in as little as 12 days or up to several months. 
  • Adult fleas can live up to a year when feeding on regular meals.

Seasonality
  • Year round with peaks in spring and early summer

Favorable Conditions
  • Host animal
  • Fleas in the larval stage prefer protected spaces with 75 relative humidity
  • Carpet to hide and eat blood and excrement from adult fleas

Health Concerns
  • Fleas are known to transmit several different diseases. 
  • Cat fleas have been found to carry typhus and tapeworms. 
  • The bites of fleas can also be extremely itchy and painful to the host animal.

Signs of an infestation
  • Adult fleas
  • Eggs - look like salt and pepper in pet bedding

What You Can Do Before We Get There

  • Vacuum throughout the home focusing on cracks and crevices and under furniture.
  • Mop all hard floors with a generous amount of soapy water focusing on cracks and crevices.
  • If you have an animal, treat your animal under the direction of their veterinarian.
  • Launder your pet’s bedding.
  • Do not self treat with bug sprays or foggers (bug bombs). They can make people and pets sick and aren’t able to reach places fleas hide.