What Are Fleas?
Fleas are tiny insects that take over our Los Angeles area indoor and outdoor spaces and cause people and pets big problems. Their flattened bodies, covered in a hard shell, provides them with protection against being squished. The flea’s large back legs enable them to jump with ease onto their hosts. These insects travel most effectively on the backs of their animal hosts.
Fleas are ectoparasites that feed solely on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Rodents, cats, dogs, and most wild animals are their preferred hosts. While they will feed on human blood if we are around, they won’t go out of their way to seek us out.
Are Fleas Dangerous?
Despite not being their preferred hosts, when fleas live in your yard or home, it is likely they will bite you. Flea bites leave behind red, itchy welts; scratching at the bite sites can lead to secondary infections, especially in young children. While the spread of disease by fleas is not usually a significant concern, they can spread some diseases to people, including tularemia, plague, and murine typhus. They also spread tapeworm to people and animals.
Why Do I Have a Flea Problem?
Fleas are prolific breeders; in the right conditions, they grow from egg to adult in a period of only two to three weeks. Fleas are introduced onto our properties by rodents, wild animals, and wandering neighborhood pets.
Once a flea jumps onto an animal host, it will remain on that host feeding and breeding. As animals travel across our yards and other outdoor spaces, flea eggs will drop to the ground to develop into new adults. Once the new adults come across an animal host, they will jump onto them and continue their life cycle.
When fleas are in your yard, it is easy for you or your pets to come into contact with them and introduce them into your house. Rodents and other wild animals intruders also regularly introduce fleas into our structures.
Where Will I Find Fleas?
If fleas are not on an animal host, they are most likely in a damp, dark area waiting for an animal host.
In our yards, fleas are most likely to be found in areas where there is a lot of rodent or wild animal activity, such as under leaf piles or woodpiles, under decks, under shrubs, and wherever your pets spend most of their time. In our homes, we often see fleas on upholstered furniture, rugs, bedding, and behind baseboards.
If you haven’t spotted fleas yet, but your pets seem to be scratching more than usual, or you or family members are waking up with red itchy bites on the ankles, feet, and legs, having your home or yard inspect for fleas is always suggested.
How Do I Get Rid of Fleas?
Fleas are persistent pests that are difficult to prevent. The best way to maintain a flea-free yard and home is to partner with a professional and implement regular flea control services.
To eliminate fleas from your Los Angeles property, contact us at A Step Above Pest Control & Termite. We are committed to our customers and providing quality home pest control and commercial pest services in Los Angeles. Our Los Angeles pest professionals will find, identify, and complete effective treatments. Call us today to ask about our flea control services!
How Can I Prevent Fleas in the Future?
Avoid dealing with a large-scale flea infestation in your Los Angeles area yard or home with the following prevention tips.
- Eliminate leaf piles, woodpiles, and other unnecessary debris from your yard where fleas and their animal hosts like to hide.
- Regularly vacuum to remove stray fleas that have found a way into your house.
- Routinely wash your family’s bedding and pet bedding.
- Inspect your home’s exterior and seal any openings you discover that may allow flea-covered rodents inside.
- Use a fence to keep your pets in your yard and potentially flea-covered neighborhood pets out.
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