Flea Life Cycles
When you think about fleas, you may focus on the adults, but it’s helpful to understand the entire life cycle of this biting pest.
Adult Fleas
Adult fleas are the most recognizable. These small, blood-sucking insects are usually no more than 1/8 of an inch long. They tend to be dark brown and appear flat before they feed. After they feed, they’ll appear larger and lighter in color. An adult flea can lay dozens of eggs every day and a couple of thousand over its lifespan.
Flea Eggs and Larvae
Once fleas lay eggs in a pet’s fur, the pet will shed the eggs as it moves around a house. The eggs are about the size of sand grains so they will be hard to spot. They can hatch within a couple of weeks into a larval stage and then develop into pupae.
Flea Pupae
The flea pupae create protective cocoons that can become embedded in carpet. A sticky outer coating on the cocoons can make it difficult to vacuum them up.
Adult fleas will emerge from the cocoons once they detect pets or people nearby. They can begin feeding on a host in a matter of hours. The female fleas will begin laying eggs just a few days after feeding, continuing the cycle.
The Risks of a Flea Infestation
Fleas aren’t simply annoying. They also present several potential dangers to pets:
- The saliva in a flea bite can trigger an allergic reaction and itching. Scratching to relieve the itching can cause more skin irritation and even infection.
- Flea bites can transmit disease through bacteria and other organisms.
- Flea bites can transmit parasites.
And, while flea bites usually aren’t dangerous for people, there can be a risk of serious health issues in some situations. Once you discover fleas on your pet or in your home, it’s time to get rid of the pests.
If you suspect your pet or a family member has a flea-borne illness, consult a medical professional.
How Do I Get Rid of Fleas?
Ridding your home of fleas can be difficult, and may require a professional exterminator in some cases. There are some steps you can take to eliminate fleas in a home, but it can take several weeks, so you’ll need to be determined in your efforts.
Remove Fleas From Your Pets
You’ll need to treat all pets in your home. Our guide, How to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Fleas, will give you general instructions, but always talk to your vet for specific treatment recommendations. In general, you need to use a combination of bathing, combing their fur with a flea comb and applying topical treatments to rid your pet of fleas. Your vet can suggest a preventative flea treatment for ongoing protection.
Remove Fleas From Your Home
A clean, tidy home can minimize problems from many types of pests, and fleas are no exception. As you’re treating your pet, treat and clean your home. Handling both at the same time can be an effective way to interrupt the life cycle of the insects and can increase your chance of success.
Thoroughly Vacuum Your Home
Use a vacuum on all soft surfaces that are safe for vacuuming, such as carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture and mattresses. Use hard floor attachments for areas that aren’t carpeted. Make sure to vacuum under furniture and in closets as well. Clear away any items on the floor so you can do a thorough job. Vacuum any visible cracks or crevices around your floor. A vacuum with a beater bar and disposable bag is best.
Wrap the vacuum bag in a plastic trash bag or carefully dump the dust bin into the trash bag. Follow up by vacuuming daily for 10 to 30 days.
Wipe Down Hiding Spaces
Use a cleaning cloth and soapy water to wipe down baseboards, windows, door frames and other areas where fleas may be hiding. Soap can be an effective insecticide for the adult fleas.
Steam Clean Soft Surfaces
Use a steam cleaner on carpets and upholstery. Any area where your pet rests or sleeps, such as their bed or favorite chair, needs extra effort. As with soap, the high heat of steam can kill the pests. If you have a serious infestation, you might need to repeat the steam treatment for several days and then follow up with vacuuming.
Wash All Bedding
Run a hot water wash for your family’s bedding and any pet bedding. Dry the bedding with high heat if possible. Set your dryer to the highest heat setting the bedding can tolerate.
You may find it easier and more effective to get a new pet bed and dispose of the old one, particularly if you suspect a serious infestation. Secure the bedding tightly in a plastic bag for disposal.
Consider Chemical Treatments
Consider using chemical treatments for severe infestations. Trigger sprays might be a good option to try. These products let you spray hard-to-reach areas under beds and in cracks and crevices. Continue with the vacuuming routine. The action of the vacuum can encourage the pupae to leave their protective cocoons, making them vulnerable to the insecticide. You may find it necessary to use a fogger if the spray isn’t effective. Note that some treatments will require your family and your pets to vacate the house for a period of time.
Before using any chemical treatment, read the instructions and precautions. Follow all instructions for safety, application, disposal and storage, as well as specifications for protective gear such as eye protection and chemical-resistant gloves. You may need to keep pets and children away from the areas you treat for several hours.
Remove Fleas From Your Yard
Your lawn will often be the source of the fleas your pet brings into the home, so eliminating the pests from your yard and making it less attractive to future infestations should be part of your flea control plan. It’s a good idea to keep your pet indoors as much as possible until you have dealt with the fleas in your yard.
Mow Your Lawn
Overgrown grassy areas can be great hiding places for fleas, so mow your yard on a regular basis. If you have a flea problem, avoid composting the clippings. It’s better to dispose of them.
Put Down Cedar Mulch
Cedar mulch can be a deterrent to fleas as well as other insect pests. Adding it to flower beds and shady spots under trees and shrubs can help keep the pests away.
Treat the Lawn
If it’s necessary to treat the lawn to kill fleas, first identify the parts of your yard that are shady, humid and warm. Also note any areas where your pet spends time sleeping or playing. These will be the places you’ll most likely find fleas, so you’ll need to treat these areas.
You can also use flea-control pesticides in yards, on patios, along foundations and under porches. Make sure the pesticide indicates fleas as one of the insects it kills. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and safety. Note when it will be safe for pets and people to return to the yard. Some pesticides can also kill beneficial insects, so use them carefully. Don’t overapply.
Prevent Future Flea Infestations
Fleas are difficult to see and even more difficult to get rid of. The best way to avoid them is through prevention:
- Vacuum regularly to help remove any fleas throughout their life cycle.
- Continue to give your pets flea-prevention medication and use flea collars on them.
- Stay on top of yard maintenance and regularly remove debris.