They may come through with an old piece of furniture or clothing and skin of a person who already has been infested. Fleas typically don't use humans in particular as hosts, but they may travel through us. But fleas don't necessarily need hosts to enter our homes.
Step 3: Disinfect the house
In most cases, it takes three to four months to completely get rid of a flea infestation since it takes fleas this long to go through their life stages, according to the American Kennel Club.
You might be asking yourself will fleas eventually go away? While some could last 2 – 3 weeks, they could also live for up to 12 months on the host it finds, so it is unlikely they will go away on their own. Fleas can also reproduce very quickly by laying eggs in carpet, bedding, or garden prolonging the infestation.
Wildlife like skunks, squirrels, raccoons or opossums, can leave behind adult fleas or flea eggs when they spend time around the house, in the attic or your crawl space. Mice and rats can transport fleas into your home.
When it has a host, an adult flea can live about 100 days. But how long can they live without a host? Those fleas typically live only one to two weeks. The entire lifespan of a flea, from egg to adulthood, can last a few weeks or even a few months.
Fleas like hiding in crevices. Their populations are more numerous in places where they can feed (like pet bedding and living rooms) and reproduce undisturbed (like lower-traffic areas or in carpeting). They also inhabit upholstery, furniture, and other common household furnishings, especially where they can stay warm.
It is a daily common myth that fleas will eventually just go away on their own, but this is far from correct. If you've got a flea infestation, you can't afford to wait for the problem to resolve itself – it won't.
Look for small, dark spots on your floors, carpets, and furniture. In fact, these might be flea droppings. The more you find, the more severe the infestation. What's more, if you see a lot of flea dirt, you'll probably also see jumping fleas.
Identifying a Severe Flea Infestation
Signs of an infestation include excessive scratching or biting by your pet, flea dirt (dark specks that look like pepper) in their fur, or seeing actual fleas or flea bites on them. If you see any of these signs, then there is likely a severe flea infestation present.
Fleas cannot fly, but they move by jumping from object to object. It can take up to 3 months to break a total flea life cycle by using monthly flea treatments. For indoor flea control, vacuuming all floors, carpets, baseboards, pet bedding and furniture will help remove adult fleas and eggs.
Flea season can last anywhere from 6-9 months to all year round in some states. Fleas love warm temperatures, so your season can start early in spring and last until September, October, or November.
Most successful flea treatment programs require at least 2-3 treatments at 14-day intervals using both an insecticide for the adult fleas and an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to prevent immature stages of fleas from developing into breeding adults.
Foggers provide a simple way to kill flea eggs (and many other pests). It's recommended to use foggers in combination with sprays or other products that can be used under furniture, where foggers have trouble reaching.
First, mix dish soap with warm water. Then place a bowl containing the mixture in each room of your house and leave it there overnight. When fleas jump into the solution, the dish soap will cause them to get stuck. Then you can simply throw out the solution in the morning to get rid of the fleas.
Although there's no particular number that indicates an infestation, even a few fleas could signify there are many more hiding in your dog's fur and your home. With fleas, it's better to take action sooner rather than later.
The light attracts the fleas, causing them to jump and land in the water. Adult fleas are positively phototactic, meaning they're attracted to sources of light. Adding a few drops of dish soap to the water reduces the surface tension. As a result, the fleas sink and drown.
Fleas are bad for your house and your health
While this is more likely to become a problem if you do have pets, fleas in a house without pets can cause serious problems for your family. A flea infestation should be taken care of as soon as possible.
Dee added: “People might feel a little embarrassed to find out they have a flea infestation as fleas are often associated with dirty environments – but this is a common misconception.
If you move into a new house or flat you can inherit a flea problem (fleas in the pupae stage can remain dormant for up to 9 months and hatch when you walk into an empty property)
Fleas can live on hardwood floors. They develop in cracks and crevices, which create a suitable micro-habitat for larvae. Tile floors are a poor habitat. Linoleum is even worse for supporting fleas, due to the lack of cracks.
Experts in multiplication
At a rate of 40 to 50 per day for around 50 days, a single female flea can produce 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. Flea larvae burrow deep into fabrics, bedding, and carpeting, so thorough, regular vacuuming and cleaning of your pet's bedding (in very hot water) is recommended.
So, do flea bombs work? Yes, but unfortunately, they're usually not 100% effective. That's because the chemicals often fail to reach concealed or protected areas where fleas can hide, such as underneath furniture or inside closets and cabinets.
In average conditions with a host to feed off of, fleas typically live around 2 to 3 months. However, fleas can only live up to one to two weeks without a host on your bedding or mattress. While fleas sometimes bite humans to eat, pets and wild animals are typically the favored hosts for fleas.