Fleas Pest Control Guide

Everything you need to know about flea control.

Flea infestations can be a cause for concern. They are a parasitic insect that feeds on blood and their bite can irritate animals and humans. On this page you’ll find out what fleas are, how to spot them and most importantly how to get rid of fleas in your business.

What is a flea?

Fleas are parasitic bloodsucking insects which feed on mammals. They are usually carried into an internal environment by animals with access to the outdoors and less commonly on the hair and clothes of humans.

How many species of flea are there in the UK?

Across the globe, there are thousands of flea species but three are most commonly responsible for flea pest control problems in the UK [1]. They are:
- The Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis) accounts for over 90% of fleas found on cats and dogs.
- The Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis).
- The Human Flea (Pulex irritans)

Appearance

Here’s how to spot fleas and differentiate them from other insects.

What do fleas look like?

The different species of flea are hard to discern by the naked eye but all of them are brown to reddish in colour and 1mm-3mm long. They have narrow compressed bodies to allow them to move through animal hair.

What bugs can be mistaken for fleas in the UK?

Fleas share a shape with other parasites like ticks, lice and bedbugs. Fleas are the smallest of these insects and are unique among them in their ability to leap up to 7 inches.

Where are fleas found?

Now you know you’re dealing with fleas, where are they hiding? Fleas are found on their host animals and the places they rest. Flea eggs may be present on any surface the animal has been in contact with, especially soft furnishings. They thrive in humid places between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius so are more numerous in the summer in the UK. Freezing temperatures kill both adult fleas and their eggs as will humidity below 50%.

Survival

This section will inform you how fleas survive which is important in helping you deal with a flea infestation.

How long do fleas live?

An adult flea once hatched typically lives for a week on a host animal but can live much longer on a host animal which is unable to groom itself.

How do fleas move?

Fleas jump from the ground into their host and to avoid getting eaten during grooming. They can jump lengths of 20 cm and heights of 13 cm. They crawl on the host using their narrow bodies to move between strands of fur.

How far do fleas travel?

An animal with fleas will shed eggs and adult fleas wherever it goes. Almost all of the total fleas in an infestation are in the environment not on the animal. An individual flea outside a host can’t move far but can wait for a host to pass by and jump on to it further spreading the infestation.

How long can a flea live without food or water?

Adult fleas live 4 days without a host to feed on. Fleas in cocoons can remain dormant for up to 155 days, only emerging when they sense a host nearby.

Feeding

These questions relate to the feeding habits and diet of fleas.

What do fleas eat?

Fleas feed on animal blood. They bite animals with a needle-like mouth and suck out blood from their host. Their bodies can hold 5 millionths of a litre of blood. Both male and female fleas feed on blood. They remain at the feeding site for 10 to 20 minutes until full and leave a cluster of irritating bite marks on the host’s skin.

Can fleas bite?

Fleas bite animals to feed on their blood. Flea bites cause local irritation but can also carry parasites like tapeworms, making animals sick if swallowed. Very rarely fleas are carriers of typhus and plague.

Breeding

These questions answer some of the most commonly asked questions about fleas’ breeding habits.

How often do fleas reproduce?

Cat fleas lay about 20 eggs a day meaning each female can lay 160 in a lifetime.

How quickly do fleas multiply?

Most of the eggs a flea lays won’t hatch and most of those that do won’t make it to adulthood but despite that an infestation on a canine host of just 5 fleas might result in over 4000 fleas in a month (2 incubation cycles). It is imperative to get rid of fleas quickly before they multiply.

Do fleas need other fleas to reproduce?

Yes, but fleas of both sexes bite causing the same problems and are dealt with the same way.

Flea Pest control

These questions relate to pest control and how to get rid of fleas in the UK.

How do I get rid of fleas?

Treat any animals with flea treatments and follow the product’s suggested schedule for reapplication.
For small infestations there are some things you can do to help get rid of fleas yourself like vacuuming thoroughly, brushing and mopping surfaces and leaving out placing a bowl with dish soap out to trap adult fleas. Remember however that only a tiny fraction of fleas are in the adult part of their life cycle.

For professional help and to treat 100% of the problem contact us.

How do you know if you have an infestation of fleas?

Flea infestations are usually first noticed by their bites causing skin irritation and itching in either humans or animals. The bites cause small red bumps a couple of millimetres across usually on the legs and ankles of humans. Identifying flea eggs is difficult because they’re so small but their larvae look like white worms that are about 5 mm long. They can also be identified by their droppings.

What does flea dirt look like?

Flea dirt which looks like tiny flecks of dry dark brown or black dirt. It is composed of blood meal and flea waste. it can be combed out of the fur of an infested animal

Where should I check for a flea infestation?

Places you should check include the:
- Animals — It’s important to stop the further spread of the infestation, check the animal’s behaviour and if it has bites or is grooming aggressively then comb through its fur with a flea comb and check if there is flea dirt present.
- Carpets — Anywhere a flea-ridden animal might have travelled could have fleas spread to it so vacuum or shampoo floors that the animal has had access to.

Warm humid places — Fleas can migrate short distances without a host and thrive in warm humid areas – check for flea dirt in places with sources of heat or poor ventilation.

Get effective & affordable pest control for fleas.

Flea control problems can be disruptive and inconvenient for businesses. Throughout the North of England, we provide effective and cost-effective commercial pest control services to a wide range of commercial, industrial, and agricultural businesses.

Over the last 30 years, VermEx has dealt with a wide range of pests with tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. You can be confident that our professional pest control solutions will provide you with peace of mind regardless of what your pest management problem may be. Contact our flea control experts if you have a flea problem on your commercial property.

Pest Control from VermEx

VermEx is a family-run pest control company with over 30 years of experience in providing a professional pest control service to commercial clients across the North of England, including Manchester, York & Leeds. We pride ourselves on our ability to quickly and effectively react to our customer’s needs and provide an unparalleled level of service that is individually tailored to their needs.

If your hotel has a pest problem, get in touch with us today and we can arrange a free quote.