Fleas

Without thinking much of it, you casually reach down to scratch a small bump on your ankle. Before you know it, your red, irritated skin is littered with tiny bites, and you just…can’t…stop…scratching. What you’re experiencing may be the beginning of a flea-infested nightmare.

These parasitic buggers live off the blood of warm-blooded animals, such as humans, dogs, cats, and other furry friends. Fleas are incredibly greedy suckers, consuming up to 15 times their body weight in blood everyday. Unless identified and killed, they can live for roughly 100 days. Though some may write these pests off as a mere irritation, they can also carry dangerous bacteria and cause allergic reactions, such as dermatitis, tapeworms, and other infections. Though rare, they can transmit murine typhus and even the bubonic plague. Unfortunately, Florida possesses the fleas’ dream climate, a temperature of between 65 and 80 degrees, with 70 to 80 percent relative humidity. In less gracious environments, they can still live year-round by entering a dormant state during harsh winter days.

What To Look Out For

Fleas are most often found in areas of the home where pets are active (or sleep). However, they can also be found outdoors, such as in the moist, shaded soil beneath shrubs, along pathways, or between slabs of concrete. Contrary to popular belief that they can fly, the pests are wingless creatures. However, that doesn’t stop them from jumping six inches vertically off carpet fibers and from hidden crevices in couch pillows to the hairs of an unsuspecting host. Be on the lookout for tiny hoppers as you walk on carpet and the presence of their droppings (dirt-like specks called flea dirt).

Of the 19 species found in Florida, the one you’re most likely to find clinging to your pets is the Cat Flea. Thriving in Florida’s warm and humid environment, these reddish-brown or black pests, in the adult stage, can live up to 25 days on an individual host. Their thin bodies allow them to run through even the thickest of hair with ease. Contrary to the name, Cat Fleas aren’t only found on cats. They also attach to dogs, raccoons, and possums—just to name a few. Other common types in Florida include Dog, Human, and Stick-tight Fleas.

Year-Round Pest Control

Though it may start as a small itch, a flea infestation is one of the most difficult pest problems to eliminate. Along with their hard outer shells and propensity for hiding, they require a different killing method for each of the four stages of their life cycle. Thus, it can take three to eight weeks to eliminate an infestation in its entirety. The professionals at Over-A-Cheever Pest Control can evaluate your particular problem and provide the most appropriate solution at a fair price.

The best way to prevent an infestation is to stop it from starting in the first place with regular maintenance. We offer both quarterly and bi-monthly plans to keep your home pest-free and worry-free. Got an itch? We’ll take care of it! Call us today and schedule a free estimate.