Fleas

They make you feel itchy just thinking about them!

Fleas are small, very specialized parasitic insects. The adult Flea is a blood sucker feeding on mammals (eg Dogs, Cats, Pigs etc) and some feeding on Birds. When conditions favorable Flea growth and development, populations can be so great that references to a 'Flea plague' are not uncommon. The interactions between Flea populations and Humans and their animals can be quite complex. In some cases control can be difficult to achieve without the assistance and co-operation of the occupants of the dwelling. Adult Flea are 1.5-4.0 long usually brownish. In the course of Insect evolution, it appears that Fleas have become wingless, (a condition that suits their parasitic lifestyle). They have very powerful jumping hind legs and claws on their legs ensure that they grapple onto the host animal. Flea larvae are small, legless, worm-like creatures with short antennae, chewing mouthparts and rigid hairs along the body.

The adult female Flea usually lays 4-8 eggs after each blood meal. In her life time she could lay several hundreds. Most eggs are laid on the host where she has feed, and usually fall off and can be and are distributed in areas where the host has visited. High concentrations of Flea eggs are often associated with animal sleeping quarters. Eggs will usually hatch in 2-14 days.

Larvae feed on the available organic material, in the form of crumbs, Human skin scales and other debris that may accumulate. Fleas prefer warm, humid conditions and hence are often a pest during summer. Fleas can slow and almost halt their growth and development at various stages in order to make the most of more favorable conditions. Usually Pupae stage may last for 7-14 days or it can last up to a year! The Pupae are usually in a silken cocoon and will only come out when vibrations and carbon dioxide levels change, meaning that a host is likely to be near. Adult Fleas can endure long periods without food up to 4 months, and may live 100-500 days. Fleas will usually not stay on the host for long, just feeding and then leave. 

When Bwize treat for Fleas there is a number of things that you need to do, some are listed below:

• Get any pets treated preferably by a professional;
• Mow the lawn and remove the clippings or put them in a black plastic bag and seal it and leave in the sun for at least 2hours;
• Vacum all floors and rugs, (including wooden and title floors) and remove vacum bag in put in a sealed bag and leave in the sun for at least 2 hours before disposing;
• Where possible keep any pets away from normal sleeping area, for a couple of weeks;
• Put all bedding etc in heat treatment bag in the sun for 2 hours or hot wash them then hot dry then and clean out filters; and
• Treat outside and inside.

Bwize can treat just inside or just outside but for complete Flea control it is highly recommended that outside and inside are completed in the same visit. Bwize can also treat any sub floors and under any verandas where access is possible.

                               Treatment

Call Bwize and together we rid your home of Fleas. Follow our instructions and get follow up treatments and you will be able be Flea free.