Category: Fleas

Summer Flea Prevention Tips for Indoor and Outdoor Pets

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Katie Bourg - Fleas, Pest Control General, Pests Services

Split-image of a dog and a large flea holding a hitchhiker's bindle over its shoulder.

Fleas are pesky insects that love warm weather, making them more active during the summer. They are tiny and hard to spot, but their itchy bites can be a real nuisance. Fleas often hitch a ride into your house on your pets or even on your clothes. Once inside, they multiply rapidly, infesting your carpets, furniture, and bedding. Fleas are like the rabbits of the insect kingdom, so it’s important to act quickly to prevent a full-blown flea infestation.

Fleas in the House

Fleas are super stealthy in infiltrating your home. Once they hitch a ride into your home, you’ve got a full-blown flea circus. To get rid of these pesky acrobats, arm yourself with flea treatments for your furry pals and vacuum like there’s no tomorrow! Here are a few tips on how to get rid of fleas in the house:

Flea Prevention is Key

Start by regularly grooming your dogs and cats and inspecting them for any signs of fleas and flea bites.
Use a flea comb to catch them before they have a chance to multiply.
Wash your pet’s bedding regularly in hot water and consider using flea prevention treatments recommended by your veterinarian.
Keep your yard tidy by mowing the grass and removing any debris where fleas might hide.
Vacuum your home frequently, paying extra attention to carpets, rugs, and furniture.

Get Help from a Pest Expert

Despite your best efforts, fleas can still find their way into your home. When faced with a full-blown infestation, it’s time to call in the experts. The Bug Man has the knowledge, experience, and tools to effectively get rid of fleas in your home. We can apply safe and targeted treatments that eradicate fleas at every life stage.

Fleas can be bothersome to you and your pets. And due to the sheer amount of eggs one flea can lay along with the long and repetitive life cycle, it is nearly impossible to get rid of them by yourself. Let The Bug Man treat your home to solve your flea infestation problem today!

Did you Know?

To see if a flea is biting you, put on white tube socks! If there are fleas, they’ll show up against the bright white socks.

How to Keep Your Home Flea Free

Posted on April 13, 2021 by brewadmin - Fleas

Keeping Your Home Flea Free - image of a family in their living room

When you probably think of fleas, your mind probably jumps (no pun intended) to your pets. When in fact, they like parts of you just as much. Here are a few things to consider to keep you, your pet and your house flea-free. There are four parts to the flea cycle. They include flea eggs, flea larvae, flea pupae and adult fleas. Sounds pretty gross, but understanding the flea cycle can help.

If fleas have a preference for a host, they’re going to be looking first and foremost for your pet. Once an adult flea has feasted on her host, she can lay approximately 40 eggs per day. Yikes! The eggs are then distributed throughout your house. Typically you’ll find them around your pet’s favorite hang-out areas. Dog beds, toy bins, and regions they sleep are common.

Those 40 eggs mentioned earlier hatch approximately 2-14 days later and become larvae, which have an aversion to any light source, typically making their home in warm, dark carpeted areas.
The larvae love to feed on organic material, such as shed skin cells (yep, from pets and people) and ‘flea dirt’ (flea poop) from adult fleas.

The fourth and final life stage, the adult flea, is when most people start looking for help, like The Bug Man, in getting rid of these pests. Before a large full-onslaught infestation, the best line of defense is to stop the cycle before it starts with year-round protection on your pet. Don’t forget fleas can make their way into your home on your shoes and clothes.

Don’t let the fleas get you or your pet. Our professional and knowledgeable staff are happy to walk you through the best options. Give us a call or text at 225-923-2847.

Facts & Frequently Asked Questions About Fleas

Posted on September 21, 2020 by brewadmin - Fleas

Even after a treatment, it is normal to see some adult fleas for up to three weeks. You can relax. It doesn’t mean you have a new infestation. It means that the flea pupae (offspring) are simply emerging from their cocoons. It’s far from a cause for alarm. A little known fact about these little pests is that flea pupae are protected from insecticides by their cocoons. They break free as adults for a period of one to three weeks. Once exposed to the insecticide residual, they will also be eliminated.

When you hire The Bug Man to eliminate a flea problem in your home, you can rest assured knowing that you’re receiving the very best, most professional pest control service. However, there are little things homeowners can do to help get rid of fleas before and after a flea treatment.

How long do I have to be out of the home/yard as well as animals?

The Bug Man provides a comprehensive sweep of all flea problems within and around the home. It’s a process that takes time, but don’t worry. You will be able to return to your home rather quickly. After a flea treatment, customers and their household animals have to be out of the home and yard for roughly four hours, which means returning to your home should be easy (and flea-free).

What do I need to do to prepare for treatment?

Before The Bug Man shows up for treatment, we recommend that you remove all decorative items, pillows, pet food, water dishes and children’s toys from under beds and furniture. Once those objects are out of the way, sweep a vacuum across all rugs, carpets and furniture — especially between and under cushions. When your vacuuming is complete, seal and dispose of the vacuum bag in an outside receptacle.

What do I do if I have pets?

This is a common question for many homeowners. Remove all pets from your home, and wash or dispose of all pet bedding separately from your other linens. Before the treatment begins, it’s best to show your pest control technician where your pets sleep, rest and eat. When it comes to your fish or reptiles, fish bowls and aquariums may remain as long as they are properly covered and if the air pump is shut off during treatment. As with any pest treatment, we recommend that you ask your pest control technician for specific directions.

What do I need to do after treatment?

While it’s normal to return to your home about four hours after a flea treatment, it’s still best to follow the specific instructions of your pest control technician to find out when it’s clear and safe for you and your family to return home. We also suggest that you resume your normal vacuuming 24 hours after your home has been treated in order to give the insecticide time to work. Make sure to continue vacuuming daily for two to three weeks. The reason? Well, the mechanical pressure from the vacuum stimulates unhatched fleas to emerge from their protective pupae cases and be exposed to the insecticide.

A Final Pro-Tip

To see if you have a flea problem, walk around in white tube socks. They will cover you and are easily visible. Take it from pros like us, then talk to us about getting fleas far from your home.

If you are concerned about fleas and pest problems in or around your home, consider calling a pest management professional. The Bug Man provides many pest control services for fleas, rodents, roaches, mosquitoes, termites, bed bugs, and much more! For a customized solution for your household, contact The Bug Man or give us a call or text at (225) 923-2847.