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Areas Covered

• England
• Wales
• Ireland
• North Ireland
• Scotland

Fleas

Fleas are small, dark coloured insects, which live exclusively as parasites in birds and mammals, including human. One of the most common flea species, are the cats fleas which despite their name can infest dogs and bite human. Their size car vary from 1,5 to 3,3 mm depending on the species and they all have long legs that allow them to jump 200 times their body size, making them one of the best jumpers among animals. Their ability to jump vertically and horizontally makes it easy for them to move from one host to another.

Their bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis, secondary skin irritations or even anaemia, tapeworms or stomach flu. They can transmit from animals to human bacteria, which can cause typhus or bubonic plague, viruses, helminths and protozoa. Controlling fleas is essential at first notice and a proffesional flea treatment is required for getting rid of fleas.

Fleas feed exclusively on the blood of their host. They can stay alive even for one year without feeding. Each female flea can lay 4 to 8 eggs after each meal, with an average of 30-40 per day, which roll into the ground, all over the infested area. They hatch in less than 10 days. This means that for every flea that you may see, you can assume that there are 200 eggs around your home or office. The eggs can be found in cracks or crevices of the floor, in furniture or bed, under the carpeting or wherever pets may sleep. That is why flea treatment with insecticides should be done in the whole area.

It is common that a fully developed flea will remain in its cocoon if no blood meal is available for a long period of time. They will get out of their cocoon and start attacking as long as they find warm blood available. This is the reason why pest control is urgent for houses or offices with pets, after a period, when the pet was not around for fleas to feed on.

You can spot a flea infestation by the bites, which cause tiny dark red dots, slightly raised, surrounded by irritated or reddened skin. The itching caused by flea bites can be treated with anti-itch creams. You can also apply to your dog or cat a flea repellent.

However, controlling fleas in your residential or commercial premises, is better dealt with by experts, since for every flea found there are certainly more developing in the premises. The best you have to do for getting rid of fleas is contact 365 Pest Control Services for immediate assistance.