How To Control Fleas

As pet owners, we know we might have an occasional flea problem. But if it gets out of control, it can be very stressful, as well as painful and itchy!

In days gone by, fleas were a major concern with the transfer of disease – the bubonic plague or “black death”. Although disease transmission through flea bites in New Zealand is uncommon, they can transmit tapeworms and murine typhus.

The good news is that there are some clear preventative measures, as well as control products for pets and your home, that allow you to get on top of any flea problem.

Flea Identification

What do they look like?

Flea eggs are white and about 0.5 mm in diameter. Although they are laid on the host (cat or dog), they easily fall off, so can be found throughout the house, but particularly concentrated on the areas where the pet rests and sleeps.
The larvae are white worm-like creatures with a few hairs. When they hatch they are 1-2 mm long. The larvae go through 4 moults, getting darker and longer. By the time they are ready to pupate, they are up to 5 mm long.
Once the larvae is fully developed it spins a pupa. This white oval cocoon is sticky, so picks up dirt making it difficult to see. Under favourable conditions the adult will hatch in 5-14 days.
Many people will see a small brown / dark brown spot (1.5 – 3 mm) not sure what it is….. but when it jumps they may suspect a flea. Fleas are insects, so the adults have six legs, although they have no wings. The adults are thin to allow them to move easily through fur / hair on their hosts.

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Key Flea Facts

flea on finger — Fleas are only 2-3 mm in size

Flea larvae require a warm humid environment to survive. Although they are common in the carpet and pet bedding, they also survive well outside in Summer in damp, sandy soils, in the shade. Any such sites which are visited by the pet (for example under the house or deck) could be a source of infestation.
Flea pupae can remain dormant for many months, waiting for a potential host to walk by before emerging. They detect the vibrations of a passing animal before quickly emerging from the pupa and jumping onto the host.
Adult female fleas require a blood meal before laying eggs.
Flea pupae are resistant to most consumer insecticides. After a treatment, pupae may continue to hatch for 2-4 weeks after treatment. This can sometimes give the homeowner the impression the treatment has not worked. However, most of these adult fleas will pick up the residual insecticide on the carpet and subsequently die. (However, PestXpert Pro-Fogger is different.).

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Signs Of A Flea Infestation

dog with fleas — Pets scratching a lot can be a sign of fleas

The presence of fleas is often first detected if the cat or dog is continually itching or maybe a member of the household gets bitten. If steps are taken to get control at this stage, you may be able to prevent a major outbreak.
Often the major outbreaks occur when families return from holidays. The flea population has got out of control in their absence and there are thousands of adult fleas waiting for a blood meal!

Main Pest Season

Summer is the main pest season for fleas. The larvae are prone to desiccation, so require a warm humid environment to develop. However, in colder climates where heating is used indoors throughout Winter, it is still possible to have a flea outbreak in the colder months.

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Flea Prevention Tips

Applying a pet flea treatment to a dog — Keeping pet flea treatments up to date is essential

Keep your pet flea treatments up to date.
Ensure regular vacuuming of carpeted areas (including under furniture) and pet bedding.
Exclude pets from sub-floor areas.

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Flea Control Tips

pestxpert outdoor perimeter spray — PestXpert Pro Spray Outdoor Perimeter

If you have a flea infestation, you need to get rid of fleas fast!

Whether you have just one or two fleas or a major infestation, you need to be thorough. There are no short cuts to a flea treatment as you never know where the eggs, larvae and pupae may be hiding. One or two fleas can turn info a major infestation before you know it!

Pestxpert have a tried and tested 5-step process to carrying out a flea treament.

Get rid of fleas with the 5-step Process

Wash all bedding, furniture coverings, clothing, rugs, that can be washed in a washing machine in a hot wash cycle. Another option is to place such items in sealed black plastic bags in the sun for 1-2 hours – the heat kills all flea life stages. If you are unsure whether the fabric cannot be washed or tolerate temperatures to 70ºC, then leave the items in place and carry out a flea treatment (Step 4).

Carry out a flea treatment inside the home. You can call a professional pest controller to carry out a treatment, but homeowners can buy the necessary products in their local hardware store to carry out the treatment themselves (at a significant saving).

Treat all rooms where the pets have been with a flea bomb or flea fogger. These products are also called total release aerosols, as once activated they release all the product in one go. The fine mist floats into all but the most protected dead spots. To maximize performance open all cupboards and drawers and remove any items that may restrict airflow.

When using flea bombs is it vital that the label is ready carefully and that all safety instructions are followed. Key standard instructions include;

Remove any clothing items, exposed food, food utensils
Remove all pets and plants
Cover fish tanks
Turn off all sources of ignition (flames, pilot lights, electricity) prior to use
Turn off or cover smoke detectors
Turn off fans and air-conditioners
Close all doors and windows to the treatment room, prior to use.
Leave the room immediately after starting the flea bomb
Stay out of the treatment room for 2 hours after use
Air the room following treatment
Wipe down all surfaces
Vacuum up dead insects
Turn on smoke detectors

Some flea bombs do not penetrate the flea pupae, so sometimes there may be a minor outbreak 1-2 weeks after treatment when these adult fleas emerge, although these are quickly controlled by the residual insecticide in the carpet.

For any spot treatments or “dead” spots where you believe the mist from the flea bomb may not have reached, use an insecticide spray (aerosol or pump pack) that is registered for flea use, such as PestXpert Pro-Spray Crawling.

This is the step many homeowners miss and a common reason for re-infestation.

Treat any outdoor areas where your pet likes to rest. Often these are cool, sandy places in the shade…. just the places flea larvae also prefer. PestXpert Pro-Spray Outdoor Perimeter is an ideal product to treat these outdoor areas. Make sure the pest are kept clear during treatment and are kept clear until the treatment is dry. Ideally any sub-floor areas should designed to prevent pet access.

It takes a bit of effort, but doing it right first time will ensure you get rid of the flea quickly and do not need to a do a re-treatment.

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PestXpert Products For Fleas

The first step in controlling fleas in the home is to use the Pro-Fogger total release aerosol. Release one aerosol per room to provide complete coverage. The unique formulation uses three actives to penetrate pupae and eggs to maximise control. The stabilising stand ensures the aerosol does not fall over in use. Ensure all safety instructions are read before use. For non-carpeted rooms, instead of a flea bomb you may want to consider a perimeter spray (also spray in any cracks in the floor boards).
To hit any dead spots (such as under furniture), use Pro-Spray crawling aerosol to finish the interior treatment.
Treat external pest resting areas with Pro-Spray Outdoor perimeter. Allow to dry before pets can return.

To successfully get rid of fleas, you need to carry out a comprehensive flea treatment, which includes a range of actions and requires a number of different products. PestXpert has a range of products to provide excellent flea control.

More Information

Check out our blog articles for more information

How to use a flea bomb

The 5-Step Flea Treatment Process

Indoor Flea Products

Outdoor Flea Products

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FAQs about Fleas

What do fleas look like?

What do flea bites look like?

Can a human catch fleas?

Can fleas fly?

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