FLEA CONTROL SYDNEY

Fleas - A Pet Owners Nightmare.

Fleas are bloodsucking insects belonging to the Order Siphonaptera, and they like to feed on mammals such as pigs, dogs or cats. Some fleas feed on birds. This insect order has around 2400 species known worldwide, and roughly 90 of these are present in Australia.

Fleas are very widespread, and their bites can cause severe irritation. Fleas play a significant role in the transmission of diseases in pests such as Lyme disease, and are second only to mosquitos as a factor in the transmission of human diseases.

This makes it extremely important to be prudent in the prevention and control of flea infestations in your home. Once fleas have entered your home it can be incredibly difficult to get rid of them.

Flea Anatomy

In order to properly deal with a flea infestation, we need to know a little about their anatomy & lifecycle.

Adult fleas are tiny - only ranging from 1.5mm to 4mm in size. They are usually brown in colour, oval in shape and flattened, which enables them to move with speed through the coat of the host animal.

Fleas also have strong hind legs, which enables them to jump powerfully to another host if they need to. A fleas legs are also features claws which enable them to grip onto the host animal.

The flea has piercing, sucking mouth parts. These are made up of multiple sections which saw through the skin causing bleeding.

Once the skin has been pierced, the different mouth sections form a feeding tube which draws blood. The flea inserts saliva into the wound with anticoagulant properties to prevent the blood from clotting. If the flea is carrying a disease, it is transmitted via the saliva.

Signs of Flea Infestation & Control of Fleas

Firstly, there are the obvious signs of a flea infestation such as pets scratching or biting at their skin. You may also notice reddened areas on the pets skin on closer inspection. In addition, you may notice:

• Small black spots on the animals fur
• Small black spots (faeces) on the pets bedding
• Small white spots (flea eggs) on the pet or the pets bedding
• Pet hair loss

You may wish to use a flea comb on the pets back or tail. If a flea infestation is present you may catch fleas or flea faeces with the comb. On wetting the extracted material, flea dirt will dissolve into a red brown colour.

Furthermore, you also may see fleas jumping on your skin and you may also have flea bites most commonly around your ankles or lower legs.

A flea infestation can be extremely difficult to resolve. It only takes a single flea to start off an infestation, and a single female lays enough eggs to cause a really serious issue.

All adult fleas and their eggs need to be eliminated, and this applies to all areas of the home, both in and outdoors. Keeping the house clean is essential in removing fleas from your house.

• All floors should be swept and mopped thoroughly
• Carpets should be vacuumed thoroughly and be steam cleaned
• Special attention should be paid to cleaning under furniture, in corners and pet resting places
• Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed and steam cleaned if possible

You may also consider using a flea bomb in the assistance of exterminating the fleas, though always follow the manufacturers instructions closely. When you have vacuumed, then the contents of the cleaner should be sprayed with insecticide and be disposed of, or should be incinerated to avoid re introducing fleas into your house.

Of course, in addition to dealing with the house it is also important to treat your pet as well. Ensure you carry out regular flea protection treatments as directed by your vet. Bathing a cat or dog regularly can help. There are multiple natural flea shampoos which are available for this purpose. Ensure you also brush your pet regularly, and check for the onset of flea infestations.

Flea Bites

The reaction to flea bites is due to the injection of the fleas saliva. Typically bites appear in a cluster. Symptoms of flea bites include:

• Extreme itchiness at the bite site
• Read swollen lump, developing within 30 minutes of a bite
• A small wound present at the site of the bite, which is visible a day or so later
• Bites concentrated on the ankles, legs, feet and lower body

Flea Species

There are a number of notable flea species, though the carrying hosts are largely interchangeable. Prevention and treatment methods are also applicable to all species of flea.

• Cat flea - The cat flea is the most common species of flea. In addition to cats, it also targets dogs, rats, humans and other mammals.
• Dog flea - Not as common as the cat flea, though is of similar appearance. The dog flea targets a wide range of different mammals.
• Human flea - In the modern day, due to improved household hygene standards and technological advances such as the vacuum cleaner, human fleas are no longer really associated with humans. Human fleas are often encountered in pig farms, and generally target dogs, pigs and rodents.
• Oriental rat flea - he oriental rat flea prefers to be hosted by rats. This species of flea is the primary vector of murine typhus and bubonic plague.

Fleas In the Workplace

Flea infestations are not limited to the home. As we have previously discussed, fleas are highly mobile parasites and can be transmitted to new locations, including commercial premises with relative ease. This could be due to numerous reasons via people, rodents or animals.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a flea infestation such as bites at work, or have visibly seen flees in your business premises, contact pestology immediately for a professional flea removal service.