Fleas

Fleas are pests of humans and animals all over the world. Aside from causing dermal irritation, fleas can also cause transmission of disease carrying organisms, bacteria and viruses. The bubonic plaque in Europe in the 14th century killed more than 25,000,000 people. The disease was passed from rats to humans via fleas.

Although there are many types of fleas, the most common flea in pest management encountered in Hawaii is the "cat" flea. This is the typical flea you are likely to find on your cat, dog or other household pet. The flea uses an animal as its "host" and feeds upon its blood for nourishment.

Fleas generally thrive indoors and out during warm and humid weather. In Hawaii, these conditions can exist all year long but conditions are generally more favorable during the spring and summer.

When treating for fleas (or any other insect) it is important to understand the life cycle of the insect. Fleas go through a complete metamorphosis. They go from eggs to larvae to cocoons to adult fleas.

A female flea upon a blood meal may lay a few eggs each day until she has laid 200 to 400 eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae in approximately 2 weeks, but this time can vary tremendously, depending upon environmental factors. The maggot-like larvae are not normally visible unless a very thorough inspection is performed. The larvae feed upon organic debris. They are particularly fond of the fecal material from adult fleas which may contain undigested blood. The larvae will therefore generally be concentrated in areas where the pets frequent such as resting and bedding areas. It is these areas that receive a large part of the fallout of fecal material from the adults.

Carpets which have been frequented by pets make ideal foraging areas for larvae. The larvae can remain well protected between the knapp of the carpet and the knapp usually contains high organic food content which has settled into the carpet over the course of time.

Also, fleas are good jumpers, so you want to check and possibly treat curtains within 18" of the floor and furniture that dogs might sleep on. Cats can impose additional problems in that they sometimes lounge or sleep on upper ledges or higher shelves.

Upon identifying the areas to be treated the customer should be made aware of his or her options. Chemicals to be used should be explained to the customer. Normally an adulticide is used in conjunction with an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR). If there are newborns, asthmatic, and older citizens who may have lung problems, it may be better to forgo the spray application in the interest of safety to these high risk groups. If you proceed with spray applications make sure all people and pets vacate the unit until the spray is dry (typically about 4 to 6 hours in Hawaii).

Pupae can easily go dormant for a year waiting for a host animal. Hatching from the cocoon is usually triggered by carbon dioxide and vibration. Although carbon dioxide is a little difficult to control, we recommend that the carpet to be treated be thoroughly vacuumed the morning prior to our visit. The vibration caused by the vacuum cleaner will force many of the pupae into the adult stage thus getting a much better kill-rate upfront. The vacuum bag should of course be disposed.

There have been many documented cases where a house or cabin was vacant for a year or longer with no known pets or animals in or around the structure. When the new tenants moved in they were inundated with fleas. The pupae were there all the time, and when the pupae were presented with an ample supply or carbon dioxide by the human occupants and adequate vibration they knew it was an appropriate time to emerge from the cocoon as adults and meet their host. If the host happens to be a dog or cat, the adult flea will jump upon the host animal, begin its blood meal and begin the circle of laying eggs again.

The customer should understand what to expect after the treatment. He or she should be made aware of the fact that the treatment is not going to penetrate the egg stage, nor the pupa stage. Therefore you can expect the eggs to develop into larvae and the pupa to develop into adults, usually within a few weeks after treatment. On the interior of the house there may be enough residual insecticide to kill the newly hatched larvae or adults.

On the exterior the UV from the sun and the rain tends to break down the chemicals very quickly. On an outdoor spray it is unlikely that there will be any residual chemical to kill the newly hatched larvae and adults. Multiple treatments on the outside are almost the norm.

It's important to treat the outdoor and indoor resting areas with an appropriate insecticide along with an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR)