Common Pests

What You Need To Know

 

Tick/Fleas

Fleas are a parasite which feed on the blood of warm blooded animals, including humans.

They pierce the skin, inject an anti-coagulant chemical into the host to prevent blood clotting and suck out the blood some passing straight through their rectum in order to lay their eggs.

A flea bite can cause acute irritation, infection and transfer of other parasites, such as, tapeworms.

Fleas often enter a building on dogs and cats, and are commonly deposited in carpeted areas, in the garden, yard and under the building. Flea eggs can take several weeks to more than 12 months to hatch - generally during hot humid weather causing an instant infestation of plague proportions.

It is essential for carpets to be thoroughly vacuumed especially in low traffic areas, under furniture, etc, before habitat areas are treated with a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide containing an insect growth regulator which inhibits development during the egg and larvae stage of their life cycle. To help prevent reinfestation the home owner should regularly vacuum carpets and wash your pet (dogs and cats) with shampoo containing a flea control product. Restrict access of your dog and/or cat, to internal and sub-floor areas particularly during the summer months. What will it cost for professional pest control? For flea control in residential premises, the price varies depending on the size home, garden area and ease of access to various areas of the house, using the safer (more expensive) effective flea control products. Due to the likelihood of a reinfestation from insects carried in on your pets, a recurring service program may be advisable and more cost effective in the long run.

What you do is critical for a successful flea control program. When you decide to use a professional service there are important things you need to do immediately before and after they treat your home.

Before Treatment

1. Observe where pets spend time - inside and outside the home.
2. Take your pets to a veterinarian to be checked and treated for fleas. To help avoid reinfestation don't let freshly treated pets back into your house or yard until it has been treated.
3. Vacuum carpets, floors, rugs, drapes, upholstered furniture, mattresses and cushions. Use a vacuum with a disposable bag and dispose of it by incineration or sealing in a plastic bag.
4. Wash or destroy all pet bedding.
5. Clean or vacuum wood and tile floors with special attention to grooves, cracks and baseboards.
6. Sweep porches, steps and decks.
7. Cut the lawn and remove debris and clutter prior to yard spraying.
8. All unwrapped food should be covered or placed in cabinets or the refrigerator. Food preparation surfaces and utensils should be covered.

After Treatment

Once your home and yard have been professionally treated, there are important things you need to do.

1. All occupants and animals should stay off treated surfaces until they are dry.
2. Vacuum carpets every day for 10 days and remove the vacuum bag outdoors and dispose of it properly. Don't be alarmed if you see adult fleas when you are vacuuming. These fleas were in the pupa and egg stages which aren't killed by the insecticide application. However, there is enough residual control to last up to four weeks. That's enough time to kill adults as they emerge and give good control in most situations.
3. Wash food preparation surfaces and utensils that might have com in contact with the insecticide.
4. Do not allow flea infested pets in your home. If this happens, the house may get reinfested and retreatment will be necessary.
5. Don't forget to treat the yard!