Flea Control

In Britain fleas are not generally responsible for the transmission of disease. However, they are still objectionable due to bites they inflict and the social stigma that is attached to the thought of having a flea infested house.

A typical flea bite has a small, central red spot surrounded by a reddened area and a little swelling. Most bites are below knee height reflecting the inability of the flea to jump any higher. The bites normally persist for 1 to 2 days and can be intensely irritating; scratching will often lead to bleeding. It is important to note, that certain people are more susceptible to flea bites than others. It is also possible to develop immunity and some people are naturally immune. This helps to explain why not all members of a family appear to suffer with bites in an infested dwelling.

Flea Control Treatment

If you discover fleas, you must have your animal treated by the vet immediately.  Many of the remedies that are available on the high street for the treatment of fleas on your animal are ineffective.  The next stage is to have your home treated with a professional flea control treatment.

Prior to having your house treated you should thoroughly vaccuum and clean the carpets.  Pets' bedding should be washed on as higher temperature than usual in order to kill not only flease, but to destroy any eggs that have been laid.  Once your home has been treated, floors should not be hoovered or cleaned for several days.  

At Sheffield Pest Solutions, we use the safest, most effective treatment on the market.  As the eggs may continue to hatch for up to 21 days after treatment, we use a residual treatment which is mixed with water and disolves into an invisible spray. It is very safe and is completely odourless and invisible. The flea treatment spray is sprayed onto the carpet in a very low concentration.  It is not fumigation, so no masks are necessary and you do not have to leave the house. It is the safest, most effective flea treatment available. We offer a competitive rate for flea treatments and have considerable experience at providing fast, hastle-free solutions to flea problems.  Please call us for any further advice or information you require.

Identifying Fleas

Adult fleas are like small, wingless insects with dark-coloured bodies measuring between 1 and 3mm in length. The body of the flea is flattened from side to side and is covered with pointed spines which allow it to move easily through the hairs or feathers of its host. The hind limbs of a flea are adapted, allowing it to jump to heights of up to 15cm, quite a feat for an insect of its size. (This equates to a human being jumping 100 metres!)

Several species of flea exist in Britain, but by far the most common (accounting for over 75% of all flea infestations), is the cat flea. Despite being called the ‘cat flea' it is often found on dogs and will bite humans readily.

Fleas Habitat

It is a common misunderstanding that adult fleas actually live on the host animal-they do not; they simply feed on the pet and then jump off again. It is only the eggs of the flea that are laid loosely among the hairs of the host or in the animal bedding. Even those eggs laid on the animal will soon fall to the ground. As a result of this they will develop in crevices in the flooring, along skirting boards, under the edges of rugs and beneath cushions on upholstered furniture. The pet's bedding is an obvious area for fleas to develop and a cat's bedding may support a population of 8000 immature and 2000 adult flees.

Before developing into an adult, the flea passes through a period of development within a cocoon. This stage is highly resistant to unfavourable conditions and can survive for up to a year, without feeding, before the adult emerges.

This ability to survive in a protected state has important consequences in terms of flea infestation in the home. In a vain at-tempt to rid a house of fleas people commonly get rid of the pet, this in fact can make the problem worse. The flea no longer has its host to feed on and therefore turns its attention to humans. Without the pet present, you are more likely to be bitten. Similarly, if a house is vacated and left empty for a period of months the fleas will still survive in the absence of a host. When the house is then occupied again the fleas will sense the presence of a potential blood meal and can appear ‘en masse' when anyone enters the building. Thus it is clear that once a flea infestation has developed it can persist for a very long time and it is essential to treat it promptly.