Fleas
What do they look like?
Adults fleas are normally 1 - 4mm
long, brownish in colour, without wings but with powerful legs
adapted for jumping. Female fleas can live up to two years, during
which time they can lay up to 1000 eggs each.
Where do they live?
Adult fleas are parasites of
warm-blooded animals. The females lay their eggs close to or on the
infested animal. Wall-to-wall carpeting and soft furnishings also
provide a relatively undisturbed environment for fleas to develop.
They can also live in cracks and crevices in bare floors.
What do they eat?
Larvae feed on debris and adult flea
droppings. Adult fleas feed solely on blood.
Are they a health risk?
In this country, fleas are not
thought to transmit any serious illnesses to humans. However, flea
bites can cause a severe irritation in some people. In some parts
of the world, the tropical rat flea is responsible for the
transmission of bubonic plague.
How do I control them?
Regular cleaning, particularly with
a vacuum cleaner, will help prevent the build-up of an infestation
by removing eggs and larvae from floors, furniture and where pets
sleep.
In order to achieve effective
control, pets MUST also be treated with a product approved for
veterinary use.
The standard treatment for infested
premises is the application of an insecticide, either as a powder
or a liquid spray. The insecticide is applied to all floor
surfaces. These areas must not be vacuumed or washed for at least
10 days after the treatment.
Can we help?
Yes. We will spray an insecticide
that remains active for several weeks. There is no charge for this
service. New adult fleas may still be emerging from cocoons up to a
month after treatment. However, the insecticide is sufficient to
kill them off.
For further details please see
Pest
Control.
Last Updated on 6/25/2012