Fleas

Risk/Damage

Flea bites appear as small, red lumps, surrounded by reddened area.  They can be very itchy.  As fleas bite, they suck the host's blood and can pass on diseases or parasites.

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Biology and Behaviour

Fleas are parasites living on warm-blooded mammals.  They can be found on the host, its bedding and other areas it frequents.  They have preferred hosts such as cats and dogs, but will feed off other hosts including human, if there is no alternative.

There are several types of flea common in the UK.  The cat flea is the most common.  All fleas are quite similar in appearance:

• flat-sided brown insects;
• 2-7mm long

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Life Cycle

Fleas lay small, pearly white eggs in the fur or feathers of the host or in the bedding material.  The eggs hatch in one week into white, thread-like larvae which live in dark, humid places.  After 2-3 weeks, the larvae pupate and 7 weeks later, the adult flea emerges.  They may remain as pupae for up to a year if no suitable host is available.  Hatching will occur as soon as a host arrives, often in response to vibrations caused by movement.

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Control

A useful, preventative measure is to put a flea collar or use spot on treatment on cats and dogs.

A small infestation can be controlled by:

• cleaning all the infested bedding and clothing using a hot (50^oC) wash;
• cleaning all infested areas with thorough vacuuming of carpets and soft furnishings - dispose of contents in an outside bin to minimise re-infestation;
• treating the area, including the vacuum cleaner with an insecticide spray and dust;
• checking pets for fleas, including small brown specks of flea dirt and treating them with a proprietary flea treatment - your vet will give you advice and help, if needed.

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