Well, if you've spotted only one flea, for example on your socks, this is not considered an
Although the random flea might show up if you've just taken your pup for a walk, more than one or two could be a sign of a problem. As few as 20 fleas might mean your pet is infested, while the most could be between 200 to 300.
Fleas lay their eggs on your pet's fur or bedding. Shortly afterward, these eggs fall off onto the surrounding furniture and floor. It only takes a few fleas to start an infestation because fleas are very prolific.
You may also want to consider placing a flea trap in the room where you found the flea. Traps aren't great for control, but they are very useful for identifying fleas and assessing populations. They can also be used to identify the species if you catch any fleas.
Just one flea on your dog or cat can signal a huge problem. In fact, a single flea can lay up to 50 eggs in one day1 . These eggs can then roll off your pet and infest the environment —wherever your pet goes, fleas and their eggs will go, too.
These insidious hitchhikers can feed within minutes of finding a host and can breed within 24 hours, laying up to 50 eggs a day in your home and yard. So, yes, one flea can—and often does—become a problem. Flea eggs usually fall off your pet and land anywhere your pet spends time: carpets, furniture and in bedding.
It is a daily common myth that fleas will eventually just go away on their own, but this is far from correct. If you've got a flea infestation, you can't afford to wait for the problem to resolve itself – it won't.
While adult fleas all suck blood from a cat or dog or other mammal, their larvae live and feed on organic debris in the host animal's environment. Flea larvae are blind. If you happen to see one flea, there may be more than 100 offspring or adults looming nearby in furniture, corners, cracks, carpet or on your pet.
In just 30 days, 10 female fleas can multiply to over a quarter million new fleas in different life stages. Female fleas start producing eggs within 24 to 48 hours after taking their first blood meal and can lay up to 50 eggs per day. Optimum conditions for flea larvae are 65-80 ºF with shaded areas and high humidity.
Steam cleaning your carpets, furniture and pet beds is a brilliant idea if you have a flea infestation. Thanks to the combination of high heat and soap, the fleas will be gone in no time.
The most common way for fleas to get inside your home is on your pet. Fleas live outside, often clustered together in the tall grass. They are attracted to the body heat, carbon dioxide, and vibrations that mammals emit as they move around.
But are they really a problem? Most of the time, fleas are merely an irritant – their bites cause itching, but no more. However, the immune systems of many dogs and cats (as many as 40% according to some studies) see flea saliva as a dangerous foreign invader, and mount some degree of response to it.
One way to detect fleas in your house is to throw on a pair of white cotton socks and walk around. Higher socks are better because you'll be less likely to get bitten. Walk around carpeted areas for around ten minutes. If fleas are present, they will jump up to hitch a ride.
Depending on the level of infestation, it can take anywhere from a few hours to an entire day to clean your home. And you'll need to keep up this routine for at least two weeks or up to a month—and possibly keep using insecticides for a year to prevent fleas' return.
In most cases, it takes three to four months to completely get rid of a flea infestation since it takes fleas this long to go through their life stages, according to the American Kennel Club.
Remember: Adult fleas can live up to two weeks without attaching themselves to a host. So, although females can't reproduce during that time, they still have up to two weeks to find a host and reproduce. And since they reproduce rapidly, one pregnant female adult flea can lead to many fleas in a short time.
In average conditions with a host to feed off of, fleas typically live around 2 to 3 months. However, fleas can only live up to one to two weeks without a host on your bedding or mattress. While fleas sometimes bite humans to eat, pets and wild animals are typically the favored hosts for fleas.
Fleas like hiding in crevices. Their populations are more numerous in places where they can feed (like pet bedding and living rooms) and reproduce undisturbed (like lower-traffic areas or in carpeting). They also inhabit upholstery, furniture, and other common household furnishings, especially where they can stay warm.
1) Treat your pets with a quality flea treatment. This will stop them being a host for the adult fleas to feed on and grow. It will also stop fleas from being transported around the property. 2) Wash bedding, toys and clothing in warm soapy water.
You're looking for small darkish specks. Fleas are typically brown, black, or reddish. If you spot something that color and see it move, you have found a flea. These pests are less than ⅛-inch in length, with 6 long legs that enable them to jump long distances.
Flea season can last anywhere from 6-9 months to all year round in some states. Fleas love warm temperatures, so your season can start early in spring and last until September, October, or November.
While some could last 2 – 3 weeks, they could also live for up to 12 months on the host it finds, so it is unlikely they will go away on their own.
Getting rid of fleas is a difficult process due to the long lifecycle of a flea. Moderate to severe infestations will take months to control and require a four-step process for complete elimination: Sanitation. Thoroughly clean areas where fleas frequently breed.