Flea control London UK

Flea infestation

Flea pest bloodsucking insect

Fleas may become a serious nuisance to their hosts as these insects feed sucking up the blood of mammals, including pets, humans, rodents, livestock, as well as some bird species. A flea infestation is a very common problem in animal farms, but in domestic premises it usually occurs when there are pets involved. Fleas are considered parasites and pests not just because they bite humans and pets but they also may transmit various viral and bacterial diseases, which pose risks to our health.

When it comes to flea pest control in residential properties with pets living in, the best practice would be to treat your pets as well. This is due to the fact that fleas will most probably try to settle in the dog’s or cat’s hair causing irritation and itchiness. Although the domestic human flea is not so common in the UK, whenever it is introduced into a property, it may be hard to get rid of. Fleas have developed incredibly strong legs, which allow them to hop over long distances and be able to spread around with an ease. They are so tiny and agile, that you may receive bites without even noticing them. Fleas are just 2 mm long and they are very difficult to spot.

Signs of a flea infestation

If you have a pet cat or a dog the first sign of the presence of fleas would be your pet scratching on a regular basis and biting its fur. In this case you should carefully check your pet’s skin, searching for fleas and their droppings, which resemble small black specs. Signs of a flea dirt may also appear on the pets’ bedding or on carpets and rugs. When fleas are in their pupal stage, they can hardly be seen, until walking on the carpet or other slight vibration triggers the hatching of the pupae, and then suddenly you see the newly-hatched adult fleas hopping around.

Treating fleas with dry steam

Flea treatment

Once a flea infestation has been established and you don’t get rid of it fast, it may develop and spread around causing serious trouble afterwards. Our British Pest Control Association (BPCA) trained flea experts have been successfully exterminating fleas across East, West, South, North London and the surroundings, using various treatment methods, tailored according to the best practice codes in the industry. We offer integrated flea pest management programmes that will best meet your individual requirements and expectations. These flea control schemes are designed to be cost-effective and, at the same time, highly efficient and aiming to achieve a long-term solution to your flea problem.

As a treatment and part of the flea pest control, it is always a very good solution to undertake a very thorough vacuum cleaning of all cracks and crevices, associated with the floor and furniture, making sure that the content of the vacuum cleaner is sealed and binned. A hiding spot for fleas, their eggs, larvae and pupae, may be also any type of rug or carpet, which have to be steamed or washed at high temperature, so that the pests hidden in there can be successfully eradicated. In case that you have pets, groom them on a regular basis and wash their bedding at not less than 60 Celsius. If you are still receiving bites, despite all measures that you have taken, then you may need to book one of our flea experts. They have been taught some of the most efficient treatment methods of flea pest control, which will ensure complete flea removal with long-lasting results.

Treatment for fleas

Prior to any treatment, our flea specialist will carry out a thorough inspection, which is aiming to identify the source of the problem and implement the best possible long-term solution. Depending on the individual case we may use safe to people and pets insecticides, which are nevertheless very toxic to fleas and many other pest insects. After the treatment takes place you will be advised how to prevent the flea infestation from re-occurring.

About fleas

Fleas are dark red to brown in colour wingless insects, small in size (1.5 mm to 3 mm long), but nevertheless one of the best jumpers of all insects in proportion of distance to body size (nearly two hundred times). Their ability to jump long distances makes fleas masters in escape, compared to other pests. They can sense carbon dioxide and temperature differences, therefore fleas in domestic premises will usually reside close to the resting and sleeping areas of their hosts. Fleas need to bite at least once to be able to recognise their host and some flea species may just drop off if they do not like their hosts. As with most of the other pest insects, the eggs and larvae of fleas are the most chemical resistant life stages.

Fleas can reproduce at high rates as the female flea will usually lay up to 5000 eggs in a lifetime. Within 3 to 6 weeks the eggs go through larvae and pupae stages before they become adult fleas. The life span of fleas may reach a year and a half given ideal conditions. Fleas undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through several life stages, with the pupal stage being the most impressive, as this particular stage can survive hibernated for as long as one year. Vibrations, like walking on a carpet with flea pupae hiding there, would trigger the hatching of the pupae resulting in a bunch of newly-hatched fleas hopping around and looking for a food source to bite.