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U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LI 3RARY

ßECTiON ECQRDS

HOME AND GARDEN BULLETIN NO. 121 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

\ CONTROLLING FLEAS

Fleas often breed in large num- ers. It most often is found in the bers where pets and livestock are Mississippi Valley, in Texas, and kept. They spread through homes, westward to the Pacific coast. buildings, and yards. They attack The sticktight * infests pets, livestock, poultry, and people. poultry and occasionally annoys Pets infested with fleas scratch people and pets in the Southern and bite themselves almost con- States. stantly. Their coats become soiled Several species of rat fleas, par- and roughened, and their skin be- ticularly the ,^ in- comes irritated. fest houses and buildings that Domestic are painfully harbor rats. annoyed by fleas, and young All of these fleas can bite people. chickens and other poultry are sometimes killed by heavy infesta- tions. DEVELOPMENT You can control fleas by apply- ing proper . Fleas pass through four stages of development—, (mag- got), , and adult. COMMON KINDS The female adult lays on an or in its sleeping place. Many kinds of fleas attack ani- The eggs fall off the animal and, mals and people. within a few days, hatch into The flea ^ and the flea ^ larvae. are the most widespread and abundant. Each kind attacks The larvae are fully grown in and . about 2 weeks; then they spin tiny The human flea,^ a severe cocoons in which they change into in many areas, lives on numerous pupae. animals. It is often found on hogs, The pupae change into adults in and it breeds in hog houses. It also about 1 week and emerge from the lives on dogs, cats, goats, and cocoons. domestic rats and on wild animals Adult fleas can live several weeks such as skunks, , and badg- without food. This is why owners of dogs or cats sometimes return ^ canis. ^ C. felts. ' Echidnophaga gallinácea. ' Pulex irritans. ^ Xenopsylla cheopis. contains no more than: 5 percent SAND FLEAS of , 5 percent of me- thoxychlor, 1 percent of rotenone, Although fleas found in sandy or 1 percent of . Flea places often are called "sand fleas" powders sold for dogs and cats there is no flea by this name. Many often contain several of these in- kinds of fleas develop in sandy secticides combined—each at a places—as a result of being lower concentration than those dropped there (as eggs or adults) listed above. by flea-infested animals. Sprays.—Use a spray that has not more than 0.5 percent of malathion or . from vacation to find their homes Use insecticides carefully. Fol- overrun with fleas, even though no low directions on the container. adult fleas were in evidence when Don't be alarmed if your dog or they left for vacation. cat shows discomfort for a few Fleas feed on animal or human minutes after the application. In- blood; they cannot breed or sur- secticides often cause increased vive without it. activity by the fleas in their last moments of life. If the animal CONTROL WITH has free run, treatments may have INSECTICIDES to be repeated to keep fleas under control. (Treat the animals only as The kind and amount of in- often as suggested on the container secticide needed to kill fleas de- label.) If the animal is confined to pend on (1) the kind of animal an area free of fleas, one treatment that is infested and (2) whether usually is enough. an infestation is inside or outside Fleas begin to leave the animal a home. Insecticides used in the within a few minutes after a pyre- home difl'er from those used in other locations. Control of fleas on animals is necessary to prevent infestations in homes, animal quarters, and yards.

Fleas on Animals

Dogs and Cats Malathion, methoxychlor, ro- tenone, or pyrethrum (pyrethrins) will kill fleas on dogs and cats. You can buy these insecticides ready for use as flea powders or sprays. N-14410 Powders.—Use a powder that Applying powder for control of fleas. feet (but apply 1 gallon of 1-per- cent ronnel). Use a garden-type compressed-air sprayer or small power sprayer. Dusting.—Apply malathion dust at the rate of 1 pound per 40 square feet in poultry quarters. Apply 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet in dog kennels or goat or hog quarters. Apply methoxychlor dust at 1 pound per 1,000 square feet, but Rubbing powder into dog's hiair. only in dogs, goat (except milk thrum powder is applied, but they goat), and hog quarters. Dusts are only paralyzed and may re- often can be blown under low cover. Treat the animal outdoors buildings where spraying would be or in an enclosure where the difficult. paralyzed fleas can be swept up and destroyed. Fleas in Homes

Chickens Sprays that contain methoxy- chlor, malathion, or ronnel will Sticktight fleas may be a prob- destroy fleas in homes. lem on chickens. Spray infested Apply a 5-percent methoxychlor chickens with a 0.5-percent mala- spray or 2-percent malathion spray thion spray (see chart) or treat to floors and baseboards and to them with 5-percent malathion dust. walls to a height of about 1 foot. Apply a light mist to upholstering, rugs, and other fabrics; a heavy Fleas in Animal Quarters spray may stain fabrics. Before and Yards spraying, clean rooms and up-

To destroy fleas in dairy barns and poultry houses, use malathion. In other barns and animal quarters, in yards and lawns, and under houses, spray or dust with the insecticides recommended under "Fleas on Animals" or apply a 1-percent ronnel spray (see chart). If animal quarters or pens are lit- tered, remove the litter before spraying or dusting. Spraying.—Apply spray at the Dusting under doghouse for control of rate of 2 gallons to 1,000 square fleas. GUIDE FOR MIXING SPRAYS

Percentage of Approximate amount Insecticides and some of the forms in wiiich they may be purchased of purchased product desired in to mix with 6 gallons spray of water

METHOXYCHLOE

50-percent wettable powder 0. 5 6 ounces. 25-percent emulsifiable concentrate . 5 1 pint.

MALATHION

25-percent wettable powder .5 12 ounces. 57-percent emulsifiable concentrate .5 6 ounces.

RONNEL

24-percent emulsifiable concentrate 1.0 1% pints.

holstered furniture with a vacuum is advisable that you be fully cleaner. clothed. To prepare sprays for use in Do not apply methoxychlor, homes: Mix 6i/4 tablespoons of 25- ronnel, or rotenone in dairy barns percent methoxychlor emulsifiable or poultry houses. concentrate, or 3% teaspoons of After handling a , do 50 to 50-percent malathion emulsifi- not eat, drink or smoke until you able concentrate in 1 pint of water. have washed. In case a pesticide is If you apply a ronnel spray, see swallowed or gets in the eyes, fol- that it is labeled for home use and low the first aid treatment given on follow instructions on the label. the label, and get prompt medical attention. If the pesticide is spilled PRECAUTIONS on your skin or clothing, remove used improperly can clothing immediately and wash be injurious to man, animals, and skin thoroughly. plants. Follow the directions and Dispose of empty pesticide con- heed all precautions on the labels. tainers by wrapping them in several Store pesticides in original con- layers of newspaper and placing tainers—out of reach of children them in your trash can. and pets—and away from foodstuff. It is difficult to remove all traces Apply pesticides selectively and of a herbicide (weed killer) from carefully. Do not apply a pesticide equipment. Therefore, to prevent when there is danger of drift to injury to desirable plants do not other areas. Avoid prolonged in- use the same equipment for in- halation of a pesticide spray or secticides and fungicides that you dust. When applying a pesticide it use for a herbicide. ¿/Mf44l¡e

This edition replaces all previous edi- tions of this publication. Because of changed insecticide recommendations, earlier copies should be destroyed.

Prepared ty ^.Entomology Eesearch Division QA.gricultural Eesearch Service /

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Washington, D.C. Revised April 1971 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.O. 204O2 - Price 10 cents