Fleas are one of the biggest reasons people seek professional pest control in Jacksonville. This pest, in particular, is especially difficult to manage and get rid of because anyone can easily be exposed to them, including your pets. Read on to learn more about the different types of fleas that plague Jacksonville, why they’re virtually impossible to get rid of on your own, and how Trad’s Pest Control can help you maintain a flea-free home.
Fleas – Types, Facts And How To Identify
The first step to managing these notorious pests is to understand how to identify which type you are dealing with in your home. Here in Jacksonville, there are several different kinds of fleas. Below are the most common types, along with some defining characteristics to help you identify them:
- Cat fleas: Not surprisingly, you will typically find these fleas on cats. They are tiny and usually dark brown or black in color. Their bodies are hardened and even look compressed when viewed from the side. They do not have wings, but their strong back legs help them jump from host to host.
- Dog fleas: Found mostly on dogs, dog fleas are about 1/8th of an inch long, usually reddish-brown, and much thinner than cat fleas. They can be difficult to see on a dog without a microscope. Dog fleas are known to jump almost a foot in height and length.
- Human fleas: Unfortunately, humans have their own unique type of flea designed to feed off them. Human fleas are also dark brown in color, have no wings, and are extremely small.
- Sticktight fleas: You will typically find this type of flea on poultry. They are dark brown and tend to travel in groups, so you will likely see clusters of these fleas with their heads buried in the flesh of a chicken’s bare spots.
Because there are so many different types of fleas, getting a professional’s help from Trad’s Pest Control is crucial in the fight against these pests and the damage they cause to humans and other animals.
The Lifecycle Of The Common Flea
Generally speaking, there are four stages of a flea’s life, beginning with flea eggs. After a while, once the flea eggs hatch, the larvae emerge into the world. Another growing stage begins as the larvae turn into pupae, which are semi-grown fleas. From the pupae grow full-blown adult fleas.
To reproduce, adult fleas will mate in an animal’s fur or in a human’s hair and then lay their eggs. Depending on the environment, if there is a steady supply of blood for them to feed on, fleas can live from either a few months to a few years.
Three Reasons Fleas Are So Hard To Eliminate
One of the best arguments for seeking professional pest control in Jacksonville is that fleas are one of the toughest pests to kill on your own. Below are three reasons why your DIY flea bombs won’t rid you of your problem:
- Size: Fleas are usually too small to see with the naked eye. While you may be lucky to physically see some adult fleas jumping around, their eggs, larvae, and pupae are too small to see without a microscope. You may not even be able to see the problem.
- Speed: Fleas are very quick. Despite being a wingless pest, their ability to jump great heights and lengths allows them to quickly dodge out of the way of your flea bomb or other over-the-counter treatments. Once they’re gone, they’re very hard to find again.
- Body shape: Because of their flattened body shapes, fleas can move through fur and hair with ease, which also allows them to escape combs and anything else you are trying to use to remove them from yourself or your pets.
Unfortunately, by the time you notice signs of fleas, you’re too late; it’s likely an infestation has already taken root.
Control, Extermination, & Prevention Of Fleas
Whether you’re looking to prevent a flea infestation from happening in the first place, or you’ve just noticed an infestation, the best thing you could do for yourself is to give the experts at Trad’s Pest Control a call. Since 1971, we have provided the most advanced, high-quality flea treatments to Jacksonville residents, with commitments to customer satisfaction, integrity, and generosity at the center of our operations. Armed with the most advanced treatments and tools available on the professional market, our expert technicians provide prompt, professional service, allowing us to permanently exterminate the entirety of your flea infestation. If fleas have invaded your home, don’t wait. Give us a call today.