Fleas often hitch a ride into your home on your furry family members. When fleas move in, it isn’t always easy to get them to leave. Understanding why these pests are tricky to remove will help you better control an infestation. Check out why fleas can be difficult pests to kick out of your home.
Their Protective Life Cycle
Fleas go through four life cycle stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. During two of these stages—egg and pupa—fleas are protected. Many insecticides aren’t effective against flea eggs or pupae. This can make it difficult to control these pests. While vacuuming can help to remove eggs and pupae, it can be tricky to catch all of them. Often times, you’ll need to repeat insecticide applications to treat larvae that have just hatched or adult fleas emerging from their cocoon.
They Multiply Quickly
Another problem with fleas is their ability to multiply quickly. Adult fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day. In a lifetime, one flea could lay 2,000 eggs. Eggs hatch within 12 days. If conditions are ideal, fleas can develop into adults in just a few weeks. When these pests go unnoticed, this cycle keeps repeating, leading to large infestations. If the cycle isn’t interrupted, fleas will continue to be a problem.
They Have Many Hiding Places
Eggs are laid on hosts and easily fall off as pets walk around. Their eggs can end up wherever your pet has spent time. Larvae and pupae can be found in carpet, rugs, cracks in flooring, crevices, bedding, and furniture. As pupae, their cocoon is sticky, which can make it difficult to remove them. When treating for fleas, it’s important to pay attention to areas where pets hang out and where these pests are likely to hide.
You Have to Treat Your Home & Pets
To get rid of fleas, you’ll need to treat both your home and your pets. If you treat one and not the other, fleas will keep popping up. To help your furry family members, contact your veterinarian. They’ll know the best treatment plan for your pets. When it comes to treating your home, there are a few things you can do.
- Vacuuming and sweeping can help to remove fleas.
- You’ll also want to wash your pet’s bedding.
- If pets hang out on your bed or near your blankets, wash your bedding.
- Plant-based insecticide sprays can help to get rid of fleas. Our Bed Bug & Flea Killer can be sprayed in areas where fleas have been seen. It kills these pests on contact and provides residual repellency. You can treat areas where your pet hangs out, but you don’t want to spray your pet.
Fleas can be tricky to remove from your home. The more you know about these pests, the easier it will be to eliminate an infestation. If fleas are bugging you, we want to help! For a more environmentally and family-friendly solution, check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.