Fleas are small blood-sucking insects that live on animals or in their FLEA LIFE CYCLE FLEAS AND DISEASE burrows and nests. During the Fleas transmit several diseases to summer fleas often become a humans. Plague and murine typhus problem around homes in North occur in the United States, but are Carolina. To control fleas, it is not found in North Carolina. important to know some facts about However, flea bites can cause skin them. reactions in both humans and animals. Scratching the bites may FLEA BIOLOGY lead to infection.
In North Carolina, summertime flea problems are almost always related CONTROLLING FLEAS to pet cats and dogs. collected in protected places. A Because the life cycle of fleas Ctenocephalides felis, commonly large part of the larval food is occurs both on and off the pet, called the cat flea (although it's just actually blood that has been fleas can be difficult to control if as common on dogs), is usually the passed in the feces of the adult your efforts are not complete. cause of these problems. flea. The larva move around in Controlling fleas takes three The cat flea has four stages of search of food and shelter. A steps. growth - egg, larva, pupa and adult. carpeted floor is" a very good place for flea larvae to develop. 1) Clean and vacuum to The adults have no wings, but are remove flea eggs, larvae, able to jump great distances. The In about 14 days, the larval flea and food. Concentrate in adult flea lives on the pet's hair and prepares a cocoon and enters the places where the animal skin. Once on a pet, the cat flea pupal stage. When the pupal stage often rests. Vacuum tends to remain there. The male is completed, the adult flea is ready carpeting, under furniture, and female flea feed on blood to find a host. The adult can remain beneath cushions, and sucked from the pet's skin. Mating inactive for a long time within the around baseboards (discard occurs on the pet. cocoon until an animal is present. This is why a house that has been the contents of the vacuum The female flea lays her eggs on empty for several weeks may be when finished, fleas may the pet, but the eggs are not "jumping" with fleas soon after a develop inside). Clean attached and will usually fall off the person enters. beneath the doghouse. pet. Eggs are likely to fall where the Wash pet bedding in hot pet spends the most time, such as Occasionally, different types of soapy water. in its bedding. The larva hatches fleas from squirrels, rats, birds, or 2) Treat your pets with a from the egg. This thread-like stage other wildlife may be a problem around the home. product to control fleas. feeds on organic material that has Some of the best products are fed to pets or placed on their skin monthly. Dips, shampoos, dusts or collars FLEAS… may also be helpful. Talk to your vet about flea control products for your pet.
3) Treat the surroundings with a suitable insecticide to control fleas. Treatments must be thorough to kill hidden flea larvae. Because insecticides may not kill the Need more information? cocoon stage, new adults might soon be found. Many Contact your people have been very Local Health Department pleased with products or the containing an insect growth North Carolina Department of regulator (IGR). This Environment and chemical prevents larval Natural Resources’ fleas from becoming adults. Public Health Pest Management IGRs are very safe to Section in Raleigh humans and pets, last for at several months, and work in (919) 733-6407 very small amounts. IGRs do not kill adult fleas so they are usually combined with
an insecticide to control adults. State of North Carolina Department of Environment and When using any insecticide, Natural Resources it is important to follow label Division of Environmental Health directions carefully. Public Health Pest Management Section
Revised June 2, 2006