When exposed to IGRs, adult fleas are unable to reproduce; eggs fail to hatch and larvae die before they complete their development. Because most IGRs kill only eggs and larvae, they do not eliminate adult fleas quickly. For this reason, they are usually mixed with a mild insecticide. Insect growth regulators are available as sprays, spot-ons, pills or food additives.
These products are available only through veterinarians. They are very effective, particularly for indoor pets. Two other insect growth regulators for topical use are methoprene and pyriproxyfen. Methoprene and pyriproxyfen are available at pet stores as dips, pet sprays, spot-ons and flea collars. Control requires 4 to 6 weeks. For severe flea problems, an IGR treatment may not be quick enough. Both products have low toxicity to mammals and pose little risk to pets or people.
With all products, read and follow label directions carefully. Products designed for use on adult dogs should not be used on puppies or cats, unless specified on the label. Botanical plant-based insecticides kill adult and larval fleas and are relatively low in toxicity. Botanical insecticides include pyrethrum or pyrethrins and citrus oil extracts limonene and linalool. Use botanical insecticides with care. Though usually safe when applied according to label directions, some pets especially certain cat breeds are sensitive to botanicals—especially citrus oil products.
Volatile oils in fresh cedar chips are toxic to fleas, but the effect lasts a very short time. Treating homes. This kills immature and newly emerging fleas and prevents re-infestation of the pet. Several low-toxicity treatments are available for indoor use. Citrus sprays containing limonene or linalool can be applied to rugs, carpeting and pet bedding. These products kill fleas on contact, but evaporate quickly and leave little residual protection against emerging fleas.
Boron-based products, such as disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, can be used on indoor carpeting and have little skin dermal toxicity. Borates kill immature fleas by contaminating their food supply. Because adult fleas feed on fresh blood only, boron insecticides do not control this life stage. Borate treatments are best applied as shampoos to avoid problems with dustiness, abrasion to carpets, and contamination of furniture or food preparation surfaces.
The insect growth regulators methoprene and pyriproxyfen can be used indoors. Although methoprene is unstable in sunlight, it is an effective indoor treatment.
Pyriproxyfen controls both immature and adult fleas. Indoors, treat pet loafing and sleeping areas, and in and under nearby furniture. Contrary to this common misconception, although flea infestations are more common if you have a dog or a cat, these parasites can make their way inside on any type of fabric—which includes any piece of clothing on your body or any item you may bring inside your house that has been in an infested area.
If you have grass in your front or back yard, these tiny parasites can hitch a ride with you or a guest into your home. Another possibility is that a wild animal with fleas , such as an opossum, feral cat, skunk or raccoon, may have taken up residence without your knowledge on your property, putting you at risk for an infestation.
In these cases, these creatures may introduce fleas as they build a nest in your attic, in trees near your home or even underneath your patio. As a result, you could have a flea problem, even if you have no furry family members. The most common types of fleas are the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis and the dog flea Ctenocephalides canis. While there is a type of parasite called a human or house flea Pulex irritans which prefers to feed on the blood of the two-legged members of your household, they are quite uncommon in industrialized areas.
While cat and dog fleas prefer cats and dogs, as their names suggest, these creatures will prey on humans for sustenance. Fleas are very fast to reproduce. A female can lay as many as 1, eggs during her lifetime; larvae can hatch from these eggs in as few as two days. The heat produced by pets and people, the carbon dioxide from our breath and the physical pressure as we and our pets walk on top of pupal cocoons can all encourage adult fleas to emerge from their pupal cocoons. What this means is that the movement of the human members of your household can attract the attention of cat fleas who might rather feast on the blood of Fido or Fluffy.
It can also explain why flea infestations can occur after returning from a vacation or when moving into a new home, when adult fleas in their cocoons for extended periods of time receive a stimulus that a suitable host may be nearby.
New adult fleas have adapted to move to higher locations on our furniture, window treatments, carpet and even vegetation to better find a blood meal, which are often close to living and recreational areas where humans can become targets for hungry fleas. Shape Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch. Select region. South Africa. New Zealand. United Kingdom. More articles. Flea and tick range. They will attack when you are seated or sleeping and find a way of sucking your blood before they go away.
This is because fleas do not like taking on the human body for long because they are too exposed. However, if you have a habit of not taking a shower and putting on the same clothes, chances are that fleas will leave on your clothes and bite you.
This normally happens during the cold season when some people do not like taking showers. If you are hairy, fleas can find warmth at the roots of the thick hair you keep. This can be your beards or your head. This is why you should always keep them well trimmed and if possible, use the right shampoo. Thick human hair can provide a good habitat for fleas. However, they will only choose this if there are no pets at all.
It has also been noted that there is only one type of fleas that prefer sucking human blood. This does not however mean that the rest will spare you if they lack their favorite hosts. This explains why it will not be easy for fleas to go away if there are no pets in your house.
However, if you are a clean and tidy person, then fleas will disappear very fast from your house.
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