Pest Expert Overview: Fleas in Bryan & College Station
There are several species of fleas found in Texas, but the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is the most common species affecting household pets. Adults are flattened, brown to black insects that are about an ⅛ of an inch in length. They are known for their jumping ability. Larvae are worm-like and white. Larvae are seldom seen as they are found in the environment around the host, rather than on the host.
Life Cycle
Fleas have life stages just like a butterfly: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adult fleas make up only about 5% of the population at any given time, but they are the most visible and will be the only ones you’ll find on your pets. The other 95% of the population exist as eggs, larvae and pupae. These flea stages can be hidden in the cracks and crevices of your floor, carpet, or outside in the soil.
Eggs take around 3 weeks to hatch and larvae develop into pupae within about 2 weeks. Pupae mature into adults within about 7 days if hosts are around. If there are no hosts, they can remain inside the protective pupal case for up to a year. Think of the pupae as hibernating jack-in-the-boxes in your carpet. They remain as pupae, in suspended animation, until they sense carbon dioxide or vibration from a possible host when they pop out as hungry adults. Even worse, flea pupae are immune to insecticides. For a couple weeks after a flea treatment, you can still find new fleas hopping out of their pupal cases. Without a host animal, adult fleas can only live a few days.
Adult cat fleas can feed on the blood of dozens of different animals and birds. They can feed on humans but our lack of dense body hair makes it difficult for them to survive for very long with only humans around to feed on. Flea larvae feed on decaying organic matter found in the environment.
Why are they Pests?
An infestation can significantly disrupt the comfort and peace of mind in your home, leading to sleepless nights for both you and your pets. Additionally, fleas can transmit diseases like Bartonella, typhus and flea allergy dermatitis. Tapeworms can also be transmitted to pets from infested fleas if they are swallowed.
Flea Prevention
For the best flea prevention, we recommend consulting your veterinarian. Since the majority of a flea population lives in your environment rather than on your pet, pet only treatments are often insufficient. To address this, we offer a spring yard treatment using an insect growth regulator, which is safe for your environment and remains effective in the soil for up to nine months.
Professional Flea Control
If you are dealing with a flea infestation, Venus Pest Company can help. We provide a guaranteed indoor and outdoor control service. Please note that because flea pupae are resistant to traditional insecticides, we recommend regular vacuuming for two weeks following treatment. This practice encourages pupae to emerge, allowing them to be captured by your vacuum or exposed to the treatment for effective elimination. Founded by Aggie Entomologist Dr. Scott Lingren, we provide expert, eco-friendly Integrated Pest Management solutions in Bryan and College Station. To get started, fill out the contact form, call/text 979.774.0486 or email [email protected]. Don’t let nuisance pests take over your home!
