Tuesday, 3 June 2014

Summer Time Blues: Biting Insects - Fleas

Fleas are a perennial problem in our homes.
My method in dealing with these irritating and "disturbing - to some" pests is to stick to a mode of operation:
The pets, require to be put on a program from the Vet; Advocate or similar. The bedding needs to be destroyed or put on a hot wash, as the flea eggs, larvae and adults will be found here, in addition to other areas around the home where they sleep or rest during the day.
My role begins by initially vacuuming thoroughly with my "numatic" Vacuum cleaner; this removes eggs, larvae, pupae and adult fleas.
I then treat all accessible floor areas with a insecticide preparation and an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR); so I knock them down quickly and disrupt their developmental stages.
I emphasize to the client that they MUST NOT vacuum until after the second and final treatment is carried out in a fortnights time, or all that benefit / preparation, working against the fleas, will be sucked up!
Finally, I carry out the same insecticidal and IGR treatment in 14 days time. This finally breaks the life cycle and tops up the benefit of the initial treatment, increasing the likelihood of success against these robust pests.
Tip: if you are getting bites, primarily around the ankles, this may indicate that you are being bitten by fleas, as they can only jump 6" (inches) and this normally is the first point of contact with us, from the ground areas.

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