Trust Pest Control

Fleas exist in four stages - Egg, Larvae, Pupae and Adult. To effect proper control it is important to understand how each stage affects the life of your family and pets. Adult fleas need blood feedings to have young. The adult will locate a host and feed. Once they have a sufficient amount of blood, the flea will begin laying a few eggs each day until she has laid between 200 - 400 eggs. Since the eggs are not attached to the host, they will fall into cracks, crevices and carpeting. Eggs will hatch in 7-14 days and the larvae will emerge and begin feeding on any organic matter available in the structure. They will remain in this stage for one week to a couple of months after which time it spins a cocoon for pupation. There it will be protected from predators and chemicals. Adult fleas will develop in 7-14 days under favorable temperatures (70 degrees) but may not emerge until triggered by vibration, which may be a pet walking by or carbon dioxide exhaled by warm blooded animals. Fleas may stay dormant for up to a year. This is why people will enter a house that has been closed up for a period of time and get attacked upon entering the home.

Proper control of a flea infestation begins with the understanding of all the factors that contribute to your flea infestation. Our professional technicians are highly trained in the techniques to eliminate and control a flea infestation using the biology and habits of the insect. Because flea eggs are not attached to the host animal it is important to realize that eggs may appear in bedding, carpeting and any areas the host may frequent. That is why the control procedure begins with a thorough vacuuming of carpeting and floor areas where animals may rest or play. Chemical applications can then be made to the carpeting, flooring and furniture where adult fleas can hide until a suitable source of blood arrives. Adult fleas can jump up to 14 inches and may be carried by a host for long distances, so the treatment of all common areas such as basements and garages are very important to the control program. Because fleas are carried on other animal hosts, it may be necessart to treat yard areas where fleas can be carried in by your family and your pets. Our technician will apply an adulticide to control the larvae and the adult stages along with an insect growth regulator to control the egg stage and to prevent the larvae from becoming adult fleas.

Preparation for removal would include:

vacuum all carpeting

clear all closet floors to allow application

remove all boxes and toys from under beds

remove all personal belongings and loose clothing from floor areas

remove all furniture coverings

sweep or vacuum the basement floor area

have as much basement floor area exposed as possible

What should you expect?

You will probably see pupating fleas for up to three weeks following the application. This can be minimized by vacuuming every other day for 10 days. The heat and vibration from the vacuum cleaner will encourage the protected adult fleas to emerge from pupation and contact the insecticide, bringing mortality in one or two hours.