FLEAS

• Adult fleas are about 1/16 to 1/8-inch long, dark reddish-brown, wingless, hard-bodied (difficult to crush between fingers), have three pairs of legs (hind legs enlarged enabling jumping) and are flattened vertically or side to side allowing easy movement between the hair, fur or feathers of the host.
• Fleas are excellent jumpers, leaping vertically up to seven inches and horizontally thirteen inches.
• They have piercing-sucking mouthparts through which they obtain blood meals from their hosts.
• Without a host, adult fleas live only a few days to 2 weeks.
• Fleas do not survive well outdoors in hot, sunny lawns.
• Fleas can be a source of both irritation and disease.
• Dogs and cats scratch constantly when heavily infested, resulting in soiled and roughened coats and, sometimes, in nervous conditions.
• The most serious effects occur when a pet develops an allergy to flea bites. As few as one or two bites can cause severe itching and scratching in allergic pets.
• Although there are many different species of fleas, the most common ones are dog fleas and cat fleas.

Fleas Management

1. Residual Spraying

• Spray carpets, pet sleeping areas, carpeted areas beneath furniture, baseboards, window sills, and other areas harboring adults or larvae.
• Sprays directly in locations where pets rest and sleep such as doghouse and kennel areas, under decks, and next to the foundation.

2. ULV MISTING

• For heavy infestations indoors, or when egg masses of ticks hatch, space sprays can be applied to give quick knockdown.