Fleas are pests that everyone dreads having in their homes and they can be some of the most irksome pests to get rid of, almost always requiring professional pest control. Unfortunately, flea infestations in Alabama are a common occurrence, especially for homes with cats or dogs. Living in carpeting and furniture, these bloodsucking parasites will target both people and pets for sustenance, leaving unbearably itchy red bites to remember them by.
To prevent flea problems in your home, it’s crucial to understand the life cycle of these parasitic pests. Check out or guide to the stages of life that fleas go through and how to recognize them at each stage.
Stage 1: Flea Eggs
The eggs of fleas are microscopic – comparable in size to a grain of sand. That’s why flea eggs so often go unnoticed in carpets and pet fur. Adult fleas will often lay these tiny white eggs on the backs of outdoor cats and dogs, who will then carry them into the house and unwittingly drop them all over your furniture and carpeting. Flea eggs hatch very quickly, taking anywhere from one to twelve days. This is why flea infestations are able to spread through homes so quickly. Colder climates can kill off fleas before they hatch, but the humidity of Alabama is ideal for these pests.
Stage 2: Flea Larvae
After hatching from eggs, flea larvae will seek shelter in carpeting and beneath furniture. Sometimes, they will linger on pets if the eggs hatched in their fur. Getting rid of flea larvae is easier than getting rid of matured fleas, so it’s important to know how to spot the parasites in this stage of their life cycle. Flea larvae are tiny, growing up to just 5mm and often being even smaller. On pets and in carpeting, flea larvae will appear as C-shaped specks that may be white or darker depending on how much they’ve been eating. Flea larvae thrive on a revolting diet of adult fleas’ feces and any other organic detritus like dead skin cells or dead bugs.
Stage 3: Flea Pupae
After they’ve eaten enough, fleas will cocoon themselves with silk, entering their pupal stage. Flea pupae are oval-shaped and can vary in color from bright white to dark brown. As pupae, fleas will lie dormant for anywhere from a couple of days to almost a full year. Sometimes, homeowners mistakenly think their flea infestation has gone away because all of their fleas have pupated and remained dormant for an extended period of time. However, in the hot and humid climate of Alabama, flea pupae tend to mature very quickly.
Stage 4: Adult Fleas
After emerging from their pupal stage, fleas will finally be full-grown. Adult fleas are about the same size as larvae, but tend to be reddish or brownish in color. These blood-drinking pests hide in carpeting, bedding, and upholstery by day, jumping on people and animals that walk by when they need to feed. In their adult stage, fleas tend to live 2-3 months. While short-lived, fleas can reproduce multiple times, allowing the flea infestation in your Alabama home to multiply very quickly.
A1 Flea Control in Alabama
When your home is suffering from a flea infestation, your next move should be to call a licensed and insured pest control company to perform flea removal services. Get in touch with SafeSpray Pest Control today if you’re looking for professional flea control services in Alabama!
