Do I Need An Exterminator For Fleas?

Need to get rid of fleas? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Are Fleas?

Fleas are small, flightless, parasitic insects that feed on mammals and birds. Each flea species is adapted to be a specialist in its host animal species, choosing to rarely feast of any other species, though some are less selective. The most common fleas in the United States tend to favor feeding on household pets like cats and dogs. As such, they are a common pest concern for homes in the United States. 

What Do Fleas Look Like?

Adult fleas are about 3 millimeters long, are typically brown in color, and have flat bodies. Fleas are equipped with strong claws which they use to cling to their hosts as well as strong mouthparts that are adapted to pierce skin and draw blood from the host. Additionally, they have strong hind legs that enable them to jump a distance of up to 50 times their body length. 

Are Fleas Dangerous?

Fleas are invasive pests that can enter your home silently on the fur of your pets, leave eggs and larvae in your carpet and floorboards that can survive for months. Fleas often live for around 100 days, during which time they can produce around 500 eggs meaning they can quickly produce a large infestation that can remain in your home for a long period of time. As they are parasitic insects not only will they use your pets as a perpetual cafeteria, they may move on to you and your family members as well. 

Some individuals are allergic to flea saliva which can cause flea allergy dermatitis, a condition that produces painful, irritating welts and swollen or broken skin leading to possible skin infections. Flea infestations not only cause uncomfortable, possibly painful, bites and rashes, they can also be disease vectors as well. Fleas can transmit diseases and pathogens like plague, flea-borne typhus, tungiasis and tapeworm. 

Why You Need An Exterminator For Fleas

Fleas are a serious matter that deserve a quick and effective response. Since flea eggs and larvae live in your carpeting and in the cracks of your flooring, and can survive for up to 5 months without a blood meal, you may think that you have eradicated your flea problem only to find it reappear several months later. A professional pest exterminator knows how to properly identify the infestation and eradicate all the eggs and larvae that have burrowed deep into your carpet and flooring, something that most DIY remedies cannot effectively accomplish. Pest specialists are also highly trained in safely eliminating your infestation, protecting the health of your pets and loved ones. If you have seen fleas in your home or are experiencing flea bites on your person, reach out to a pest control specialist today.

Find A Pest Specialist For Flea Control

If you are concerned about flea control for your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.