Fleas are always unwelcome guests in our home, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual among pet owners around the globe! If you own a pet, you must be aware of the painful fact that if your pet is not protected & frequently goes outdoors, there is always risk that they may come back with something that can quickly become a household nuisance.

Flea Facts

Generally speaking; depending on environmental conditions (temperature and humidity – New Orleans is a prime example) the total flea life cycle can range from a couple weeks to several months. This means plenty of opportunities to grow, thrive, and potentially spread throughout the house! Fleas are resilient insects, with that said here are some quick and easy flea facts to get you in the know!

In its pupae phase, the protective cocoon serves to protect developing adults from chemicals. So though you may have had a flea treatment, the treatment cannot kill the fleas within the cocoons. A flea can begin feeding on your pet within seconds. And within 24 hours of its first blood meal, a flea can begin laying eggs, resulting in an infestation in less than 24 hours.

• A single adult female flea can lay approximately 40 eggs every day and up to 2,000 to 5,000 eggs in her lifetime, these eggs are not sticky like most insect eggs, which means that the eggs can easily fall off the animal and roll onto the ground – the carpet, the pet’s bedding, etc
• A Flea’s total life span can be as short as one year but may be several years in ideal conditions. Although in most situations an adult flea only lives for 2 or 3 months

When Fleas Invade!

While coating your pets with flea protection is a great way to reduce any flea issues. When a flea gets into your home the situation can worsen as once they are inside, fleas will never rule out a warm host! Here are some tips to help slow an infestation while you wait for a professional.

Removing potentially infected items like toys, clothes or pet food from the floors is a great start to reducing the spread.  Be sure to wash or replace pet bedding as well as vacuuming carpets and rugs, this includes beneath beds and furniture. When there is a flea infestation in your home it is important to clean all wood, tile and linoleum floors by sweeping and mopping concrete floors with soap and water in the garage, basement or enclosed patio where pets rest or stay.

• Remove all pets including birds and reptiles
• Replace any pet bedding outdoors and make all shaded areas, crawl spaces, etc. available for treatment

The Pest Prevention Specialists

For more information on our pest prevention products, or if you would like to learn more a flea infestation, please click here! If you are concerned about a current mosquito problem, call us at 504-366-1333 to schedule a service call or contact us online!