Fleas are no match for your Tulsa exterminator when they help you to get rid of them. Our pets are our loved ones and just as much a part of the family as anyone else. But these family members have a special parasite that attacks them. These blood feeders are known as fleas. It’s important that you protect your family and pets from these bloodsucking insects. Not only will they attack your cats and dogs, but they will bite on many different exotic pets, and they bite on us as well. So in this article, let us take a good hard look at fleas, their life cycle, and what you and your Tulsa exterminator can do to protect you and your home from these insects.
FLEA BLOOD FEEDERS AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
Fleas are an insect that survives on the blood of mammals. They have special mouth parts that are specifically designed for sucking blood out of your skin. They have a long syringe like tube that could be injected through the skin to draw out the blood that it feeds upon. As it does this, sometimes there is some backwash from the flea. Because of this, fleas can transmit many different diseases when they bite.
The black plague was a terrible disease throughout the Middle Ages that almost wiped out everyone in Europe. Rats infected with the bacteria that causes this disease were bitten by fleas. Then these fleas would bite humans and pass that bacteria onto us. Even today, the black plague is still around. In the southern part of the United States, we will sometimes see a flare up of this disease. The good news is this disease is treatable if it’s caught early enough.
Anemia is another disease that can strike your pets through the bite of a flea. Anemia is when the blood count of an organism gets too low and can cause major problems that can even be fatal. Usually this happens in the case of a small animal, such as kittens or puppies, and very large populations of fleas. Too many bites can cause their blood count to be dangerously too low. This is a situation where you need to be in contact with your veterinarian if you find yourself and your pet in it. If you need help, please contact your Tulsa exterminator for help.
FLEA LIFE CYCLE AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
Fleas use a complete metamorphosis to develop into the adult. This means that they start as an egg. These are eggs laid by the female on the host animal, and attaches itself to the base of a piece of hair. As the animal scratches, these eggs will fall off into a high traffic area or bedding. Here they will lie in wait until they sense the heat and vibration of a host animal nearby. Then they will break open, revealing a larva within.
The larva is the worm form of the flea. This insect will essentially gather the scraps of what was left over from the adult fleas. As the adults eat the blood, they harvested from the host animal, they will defecate what’s known as flea dirt. This dirt will fall off the animal, and then the larva will find it and eat it. This gives them the nutrients they need from the dry blood found inside, and the gut biome to be able to break down this blood in the first place.
The larva will continue to grow until it gets to the point at which it needs to pupate. This is when it will build a cocoon out of dirt and hair, or anything that it can find around it. Once in this cocoon, it will develop into a full grown adult flea. Then again, it will wait until a host animal comes near it. When it feels the heat and vibrations of a nearby host animal it will break out of its cocoon and a fully formed adult will emerge. Contact your Tulsa exterminator for help with fleas.
ADULT FLEAS AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
Now that the first three sections of the lifecycle are done, the adult flea will need to find its way onto a nearby host animal. The host animal will provide food for the flea, connection with other fleas so that they can meet and reproduce, and the body heat needed to survive the cold winter months. In order to get on the host animal, the adult flea has the ability to jump large distances. The adult flea has the ability to jump up to fifty times its own height. A powerful muscle that goes laterally down the body of the flea gives it the strength to be able to spring itself into the air and onto a host animal.
Once it find its way to the host animal, it will use its front legs that are hinged the opposite direction of most insects to hold tightly to the fur. It will use this viselike grip to hold on even when the animal is scratching. Once on the host animal, it will find a mate and pair up and mate. Then the female will lay her eggs starting the process all over again.
ELIMINATING FLEAS
It’s important to break this life cycle if it’s begun. When you call your Tulsa exterminator to deal with fleas in your home, the pesticides they use will kill fleas in their adult and lava form. But in their egg and pupa form, these insects are protected. It’s important to get them out of their shell by vacuuming often. Then multiple treatments from your Tulsa exterminator will finish the job.
If you’re having an issue with fleas or any other pests, then its time to contact your Tulsa exterminator. Here at TermMax pest control, we are the best in the business when it comes to dealing with fleas or any other insects. We service the greater Tulsa area, including Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, Coweta, Claremore, Tulsa, Prattville, Sapulpa, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, Turley, and so much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!
