Insects

Biting Fleas On The Floor

Many people have experienced it after coming home from vacation or after being away from home for a long time: a flea infestation. All the little black critters on the floor are a bit of a shock. Where do these bloodsucking bitters come from?

After being away from home for a long time, fleas infestation can develop in the house, an infestation that you want to get rid of quickly. How do you fight fleas in the house and how do you get rid of fleas?

The Fleas

The flea is just a dirty little creature. Fortunately, humans are not so bothered by it, something that does not apply to our pets. Fleas are mainly found on cats and dogs. You have the cat flea and the dog flea, but often the dog also just has the cat flea with him. Only in 10% of the cases does a dog get hold of a dog flea.
To understand the flea properly, understanding the life cycle is very important. A flea is first an egg. A flea egg can survive for a very long time and is very small. You can hardly see the egg with the naked eye and the egg can survive in almost any environment.

For example, eggs are on your carpet or in the dog bed. Eggs can also lie on the couch, between the pillows, or on the doormat. The flea egg is a real survivor: the egg can even survive 1.5 years without emerging into a larva.

The Larva Of A Flea

The larva is a different story. The larva of a flea does not feed on blood, but on organic material from, for example, yourself. Every person loses a lot of dander. These dander fall to the floor, settle between seams and cracks, and are not visible to the naked eye.

For example, feces from other fleas are also a real treat for the larva of the flea. The larva eventually turns into a pupa. The flea as we know it forms in the doll. The flea comes out of its doll by vibration, heat, and pressure. Especially a dog or cat that walks past a doll is a real trigger. Body heat means a mammal with a lot of blood, something the flea is only too happy to take in.

It’s Clean In My House!

Flea infestations can also occur in clean houses. Fleas can also come from outside. For example, think about all the visits you’ve made to other homes. Fleas may have come with you and then moved to your house cat. Fleas lay a lot of eggs. These fall to the ground and the cycle repeats. Even if you don’t have any pets, you can still get a flea infestation. Consider the above story. Eggs may also have entered your home. The larvae then eat dander and feces from the adult fleas.

What Should You Do With A Flea Infestation?

Vacuuming is very important with a flea infestation. With a good vacuum cleaner, you can suck the eggs from the ground. The eggs end up in the vacuum cleaner bag. After a thorough vacuum cleaner, always throw the bag away, otherwise, you run the risk of the fleas coming out again. It is also advisable to cut a flea collar into pieces and spread it around the house.

Reading Suggestions: Types of Flea Treatments: Which Works Best?

Leave the flea collar in place for as long as possible. After 2 weeks you will see that many fleas have been eradicated. For example, place the pieces of flea collar under the sofa or under the cupboard. You can also place a container of water and a few drops of dish soap on the area where there are many fleas.

Place a candle or tea light in the center. In the evening the fleas jump to the light and heat. They will end up in a container of water that contains detergent. Make sure you use detergent. Without this remedy, the water surface will not break.

Don’t Forget The Pets!

If you have pets, don’t forget these! It is very important to treat your dog or cat, or perhaps both, with a well-functioning flea remedy. If you don’t do this, the cycle will just repeat itself and you’ll be infested again very quickly. For example, buy Frontline Combo for the cat. This remedy prevents contamination of the environment of the treated animal by adult fleas. Advantage from manufacturer Bayer is also recommended. It works with a different fabric than Frontline.

Some Flea Facts

  • Fleas can go up to 6 months without a blood
  • Fleas rarely stay on people
  • The flea is a stubborn piece of vermin
  • The flea has become resistant to many remedies
  • Fleas are often smaller than a pinhead
Julia Henriques

Julia Henriques, a pet blogger with 5 years of experience, retired from a 35-year banking career to become the editor of the Pet Rescue Blog in 2019. She's passionate about her pet dog Joy, whom she's had since 2016, and now shares her expertise on pet care and natural healthcare options. Julia resides in Chicago with her partner Marc and their rescued Samoyed, Tarka.

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Julia Henriques
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