Fleas are an insect that you and your Tulsa pest control company can eliminate if they’re attacking you or your pets. These bloodsucking insects find a way into our homes and attack our loved ones and pets. Cats and dogs are especially susceptible to these parasites. Keeping them protected is important because these insects can spread many different diseases. They can be in some cases fatal. In order to do this, you’ll need to understand everything that you can about fleas, and how they work. So in this article, let’s take a good hard look at fleas, their life cycle and what are you and your Tulsa pest-control company can do to protect your home and your loved ones from these insects.
FLEA LIFECYCLE AND TULSA PEST CONTROL
Fleas use a complete metamorphosis to develop into the adults. This means that the female will start by laying eggs on the fur of the host animal. As the host animal scratches, these eggs will break loose and fall off usually somewhere in a high traffic area or near by where your pet sleeps. These eggs will wait until a host animal comes near. They will sense the heat and vibration of this animal and then break out of their egg. A larva or worm like structure will emerge. This larva will get food where ever it can. The number one food source for flea larva is flea dirt. Flea dirt is the droppings of adult fleas that fall off the host animal as it scratches. These droppings will have dried blood inside them that will nourish the young flea larva.
Once the flea larva has grown to its greatest extent, it will begin to pupate. This is the cocoon stage of the flea lifecycle. It will grab for hair or anything else that it can find around it and create this cocoon. Once inside it will develop into the adult flea. Again it will wait for the heat and vibration of a host animal before it emerges from this stage of its lifecycle.
When it does, the flea adult will be ready to jump and get on a host animal. The process of jumping allows it to jump up to 50 times its own height and 100 times its own length in distance. The ability to throw itself on to a host animal is what effectively gets it to land on it. If you are having an issue with fleas or any other insects, then its time to call your Tulsa pest control company for help.
FLEA DISEASES AND TULSA PEST CONTROL
When fleas bite, they use a set of mouth parts that are sucking mouth parts. They have a long, narrow needle like tube that they can inject into your skin and draw the blood out. In the process, they often backwash the fluids back into your system, which can carry other diseases back to you. Back in the middle ages, the black plague was actually transmitted by flea. Rats infected with bacteria were bit by fleas. Then the flea would carry this bacteria until they found a human and bite the human. Then this bacteria is transmitted to the human, causing black plague to run rampant throughout Europe, killing millions of people. Even today it’s found in many parts of the southern part of America. If it’s caught early enough, it can be treated.
Anemia is another issue they can be caused by fleas. Because they’re draining mammals of their blood, some small mammals can be susceptible to a low blood count if too many fleas have bitten them. Usually small kittens or puppies are most susceptible to this kind of a disease. It also takes a very high flea population to cause this kind of a problem. If you think that your pet is suffering from anemia, it’s time to contact your veterinarian. At this time, you can also contact your Tulsa pest control company for help eliminating fleas.
TREATING FLEAS
Fleas are treated on three different areas. The first place you’ll need to treat fleas is on the animal themselves. Your veterinarian will be able to help you with this. They have many different options that are perfect for whatever breed or species of animal that you’re dealing with. In most cases, they apply a low-dose pyrethrin pesticide on the skin of the animal. This medical grade pesticide will not be dangerous for your animal, but often will kill all the fleas on your pet. In many cases, though, a lot of these fleas with jump off a pet causing a problem in your home.
This is the second place in which we have to deal with fleas in your home. This is where you’ll need to get your Tulsa pest control company involved. They’ll be able to treat these insects with a treatment that focuses on the carpeting and bedding of your animal. In many cases, you’ll have to leave the house for the time of the treatment, and to allow to dry. These treatments are extremely effective when it comes to dealing with fleas in their larva, and adult stage, but fleas in their egg and pupa stage are protected from pesticides.
So because of this, you’ll probably have to get on a program where your exterminator will have to come back multiple times in order to kill off these fleas. In the meantime, you can vacuum often. This mimics, the heat and vibration of a host animal and can often convince these insects to come out of their hiding.
OUTDOOR FLEA TREATMENTS AND TULSA PEST CONTROL
Lastly, you may need to treat the outdoor yard for fleas. We can’t kill every flea in your yard, but keeping populations low may be important to keeping fleas off of your pets. Contact your Tulsa pest-control company for help with treating fleas.
If you have an issue with fleas or any other pests, then its time to call your Tulsa pest control company. Here at TermMax pest control, we are the best in the business when it comes to dealing with fleas or any other insect. We service greater Tulsa area, including Broken Arrow, Coweta, Claremore, Catoosa, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Prattville, Owasso, Turley, Jenks, Bixby, and so much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!