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Welcome to our Pest Library here you will
find a picture of the most common Pest's and a description of each. If you would like to see others listed just
contact us and we will try and add it to our library.
Ants
Bees
Fleas
Mosquitoes
Rodents
Roaches
Scorpions
Spiders
Termites
Ticks
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| Fleas |
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Size : Tiny insects measuring about
1/6-inch in length and are laterally flattened.
Color : Reddish brown.
Their flat shape allows cat fleas to easily pass between the hairs of animals. The cat flea
is the species involved in most home infestations and will attack both cats and dogs. It is
usually carried into the home by a pet. Once inside, large populations can build up quickly.
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| Flea Life Cycle |
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More Facts about Fleas |
Fleas infest mammals and birds.
They feed on blood. More than 2,400 species are known, worldwide, however only a few species feed regularly on
dogs and cats. The most common flea species found on both dogs and cats and in our homes is the cat flea,
Ctenocephalides felis. Adult male cat fleas are only about 1 /12 to 1 /8 inch long (2 to 3 millimeters);
blood-engorged females range up to 1/5 inch long (4 to 5 millimeters). Newly hatched fleas are dark brown,
while the color of older fleas tends to be lighter brown or slightly orange, as in actively reproducing females.
Fleas develop by complete metamorphosis; from egg, to larva, to pupa(cocoon), and adult.
The reproductive
cycle of the female flea begins 24 to 36 hours after her first meal. A female cat flea can lay scores of
eggs per day and thousands of eggs in her lifetime, depending upon their environment and host. Flea eggs are
pearly white, oval and the size of a grain of sand, about 1/50 inch (0.5 millimeters), and usually hatch in
1 to 10 days, depending on the temperature and humidity.
Flea larvae feed on organic debris found in their
environment, including adult flea feces, which contains partially digested, dried blood. Once the larvae have
ingested adult flea feces they become darker in color. Larvae do not like direct light and move around,
constantly, deep among carpet fibers or under organic debris (grass, branches, leaves, or soil), searching for
food. The larval stage usually lasts for 5 to 11 days, depending upon the availability of food and upon
climatic conditions. After completing the larvae stage, the mature larva moves to a remote area and produces a
silk-like cocoon, in which to pupate. Flea cocoons can be found in soil, on vegetation, in carpets, under
furniture, and on animal bedding.
The pupa stage lasts for 8 to 9 days on average, but can last for months.
The flea's entire life cycle can be completed in as little as 12 to 14 days, or as long as 180 days. Under
typical household conditions, the entire life cycle takes 3 to 4 weeks. The newly emerged fleas can survive for
1 to 3 weeks without feeding, but as soon as they are on a suitable host they will feed and mate, and females
will begin egg production within 24 to 36 hours. Areas of the yard, garden, or shrubbery can become infested. |
FYI |
Early detection is probably the
best method of stopping a flea problem before it becomes very serious. It seems as though the heaver the
infestation and the longer it is allowed to develop, the longer it can take to eliminate.
Inspect your
pets regularly for any sign of flea activity. At the first sign of fleas, which is probably the adult flea
itself, begin with a flea bath or better yet... an application of Flea drops directly to the pet as the label
recommends. Always follow label recommendations!
If you catch it early enough you might avoid having to
treat the home and yard. If you find yourself with more fleas than you can deal with...it's time to call a
professional. There are numerous over the counter products that are labeled for fleas, but you receive no
warranty from the manufacturer of those products in case that treatment fails. A knowledgeable and experienced
professional will usually give a warranty if you follow instructions on proper pet, home and yard preparation. |
Picture Courtesy of Texas A&M University |
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