How to get rid of domestic and ground fleas

Of all the uninvited guests, it is unknown where they appear in apartments and private houses, the most unpleasant are fleas and bedbugs. Even disgusting cockroaches. Because, they eat not food waste, but blood, including human.

Flea bites are so painful and dangerous that you can hardly endure this depressing neighborhood for a long time. In the fight against the parasite, any means are used - from grandmother’s methods with folding of strongly smelling plants to ultramodern biochemical preparations. The short-term effect is achieved in most cases, but not everyone can get rid of the blood suckers forever.

The well-known axiom that it is necessary to fight not with the investigation, but the cause, works in the case of domestic fleas.Before declaring war on them, get to the bottom of the problem: who, how and why entered your home?

How to recognize a flea

A squad of fleas is numerous, they live in all natural zones and on all continents, but especially love heat and moisture. A temperate and subtropical climate is an optimal habitat, and summer and early autumn is a period of increased activity.

Insect size up to 5 mm on average has a flattened body, a hard chitinous cover with spikes and tentacles, three pairs of strong limbs, piercing-sucking proboscis. The flea, like the majority of external parasites, feeds in reserve, therefore its belly is disproportionately large, hypertrophied, and stretches as it is filled. In addition, not fully digested blood residues in the feces is a breeding ground for numerous offspring.

In order to make sure that there are fleas in the apartment and not other blood-sucking insects, compare your observations with the characteristic features of the flea presence.

If there are many parasites, you can see them. A distinctive sign - jumping in height to one and a half meters. The leap itself due to the microscopic size of the insect and incredible speed, we observe as the instantaneous disappearance of the little bug from the field of view.

If you manage to catch a flea, try to crush it with your nails. Irrefutable proof of belonging to the genus of these ectoparasites will be a characteristic click during the mechanical destruction of the chitinous shell.

It is possible to diagnose flea invasion of the room by bites. Firstly, they are very painful, because before sucking, a flea, unlike bedbugs, does not sacrifice a special anesthetic enzyme. Secondly, the wounds are located mainly on the legs, crowded, in a chaotic manner. In the place of the bite, a rather severe itching is felt, a secondary allergic reaction may occur.

Flea dirt is another sign of infection. You can see it on animal fur, carpet pile, bedding. These are brown lumps that, when wetted with water, acquire a reddish tint from the remnants of undigested blood.

Home Flea Varieties

Of the more than two thousand species of fleas, only a few that can penetrate the premises represent a danger to humans. It is they who get us with their intrusiveness, and also serve as a source of more serious consequences - allergies, severe infections, diseases of pets.

The main groups of fleas got their name from the preferred “breadwinner,” although they can bite any warm-blooded victim if necessary. Despite established stereotypes, ectoparasites do not live permanently in the hair of an animal or person and feel great in nests, cages, booths, rugs, dusty and damp places. Your neighbors can be:

1. Cat flea - one of the largest, reaching a length of 16 mm during the laying of eggs. It is easy to diagnose in cats in the area of ​​the peritoneum, tail, ears, on the neck.
2. Canine - A close relative of the cat flea, can parasitize together on the same carrier.
3. Rat - the most dangerous group of parasites, the peddler are rodents: rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters. They are also called basements - by habitat.
4. Rabbit - is more common in the wild, in places where animals are burrowing.
5. Chicken - prefers feathery, affects not only poultry, but also parrots, canaries, pigeons. Serious infection can lead to anemia, exhaustion and even death of the wearer.
6. Human - a brown insect with a length of 1.5–3.0 mm, a carrier of the causative agent of plague, can cause worm infestation.
7. Ground flea - the least dangerous for humans, does not bite, as it feeds not on blood, but on plant food. It is a threat to green space.

How do fleas enter the house

There are several options for settling fleas in a dwelling.

Pets
Almost everywhere parasites fall with carriers - domestic animals: cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, decorative birds, etc. If a four-footed or feathered friend does not provide timely assistance, adult imagoes will lay eggs. The animal, combing out, will scatter them where necessary, you will spread with shoes throughout the house, the larvae will develop in warm and dusty places, pupate. The infection process was successfully completed, and will continue to progress exponentially.

Insect dungeons
In some regions with a warm climate, for example, in the Crimea, the invasion of fleas is akin to a gnome - appears in a certain period, brings fear, and then disappears safely until next year. Such an attack is typical of multi-storey buildings of old construction with dirty and wet basements. From June to September, fleas are activated and can penetrate up to several floors, settling the apartments of even the cleanest owners.Several species of parasites live in the basements at once, rat species are more common. These are the most dangerous from the point of view of transportation of all possible pathogens.

Insanity of neighboring rooms
If you are unlucky with the neighbors who turned their apartment into a hotbed of cockroaches, fleas, dvukhostok and other evil spirits, get rid of the penetration of galloping and climbing into all the holes of the creatures will not be easy. Because of their microscopic size, they leak through the cracks, ventilation passages, cracks. Fleas can enter the living rooms of the upper floors from the attic, especially if it is dusty and cluttered, pigeons live under the roof, and birds build their nests.

Accidental hit
The randomness factor is not excluded, but it will work only under certain conditions. If you, for example, spend all day at work in a dusty basement, and then, without changing your clothes, you come home, then you may well bring in a few new inhabitants. But even in this case, in order to start breeding, they need to get into a suitable habitat.

Where do fleas come from

Fleas, like most parasites and insect pests, prefer unsanitary conditions. In secluded, untidy corners, they find shelter for themselves and food for the larvae.These insects love old, dust-drenched carpets, wardrobes with cramped, unworn clothing for years, old stuffed toys, and other stuff that you don’t use, and it’s a pity to throw it away.

At risk are also lovers of all kinds of living creatures in a limited area. The more densely populated the apartment is with animals, the greater the likelihood of being bitten by fleas sooner or later. And the combination of love for smaller brothers and dislike for systematic cleaning will create ideal conditions for the little vampires.

The flea population is rapidly increasing in damp heated rooms with poor ventilation - bathrooms, boiler rooms, storerooms, basements. Residents of the lower floors should unite to jointly combat parasites, because it is unrealistic to remove them from a single apartment, while maintaining the source of distribution.

In a private house with outbuildings, the center of infection can become a house, an rabbit, a doghouse, from which fleas will spread to other rooms.

Are fleas dangerous to humans?

No matter how insignificant the bite of this insect is, it is still unpleasant, especially if young children are attacked.Constant contact with parasites is fraught with a real threat to health, both real and potential.

A large number of bites cause an allergic reaction of the body. Itching wounds when combing inflamed, it is easy to infect them. Without proper treatment, the skin can even become festering ulcers. Tension from the expectation of constant bites can develop into a phobia, leading to neuralgic disorders.

Fleas are carriers of deadly disease pathogens, from which millions of people died hundreds of years ago. Through a microscopic puncture in the skin, the most dangerous biological agents can enter the human body:

• plague wand;
• tuberculosis bacteria;
• salmonella sticks;
• hepatitis viruses, tick-borne encephalitis;
• causative agent of typhoid and others.

According to the degree of danger, a rat flea, a potential carrier of the plague bacillus, and a bird-breeding ground for salmonellosis should be distinguished. Bites of ectoparasites are especially fraught for young children who have not received immunization.

In addition, fleas are an active transporter of worms eggs, they can be shared by them not only to animals, but also to humans.

How to get rid of domestic fleas

Having carefully analyzed the causes and sources of infection of the home by ectoparasites, we proceed to their destruction. Events should be held in the complex, only in this case one hundred percent success is guaranteed.

Destruction of foci of infection
If there are pets in the house, we start with them. With the help of special shampoos and preparations we poison fleas. Inspect the beds. Treat bedding and mats with preparations, then wash, change loose bedding in cages, nests, houses.

It happens that the source of infection is outside the walls of the apartment. Together with your neighbors, call SES representatives or order the service from a specialized organization to handle the basement or the attic.

Preparatory activities
After eliminating the causes of flea invasion, proceed to the creation of conditions favorable for man, but unbearable for blood-sicking parasites.

Start general cleaning with washing, knocking out, airing and drying bed linen and accessories, carpets, tracks, textiles. Disassemble the debris in the cabinets and without regret, part with everything you do not use for a long time.Use a vacuum cleaner, damp cloth and detergent to remove dust in corners, on walls, baseboards, furniture, shelves, niches, floors. Carpet coverings sprinkle with a mixture of salt and baking soda in equal proportions and rub it into the pile. The next day, collect the trash vacuuming.

If the apartment has a source of moisture, you need to get rid of it. View the water and sewer networks, fix leaks. Install forced ventilation if necessary.

Adequate control measures: pest control
You can choose drugs in proportion to the infection on your own, or use the services of specialists. At the time of processing in the apartment should not be people and animals from several hours to days. After completion of the disinfestation, the room must be thoroughly ventilated, and the remnants of a poisonous substance must be wiped from all horizontal surfaces.

Examples of effective insecticides include:

1. Raptor - a popular spray of narrow exposure with a low level of toxicity. The solution must be sprayed, especially paying attention to the cracks and cracks in the floor, doors, under the plinths.
2. Sentry (USA) - spray on the basis of pyriproxifen kills not only fleas, but also larvae, prevents the development of eggs, eliminates the unpleasant odors of animals. The drug is treated with probable places of accumulation of pests, all hard surfaces at a height of up to 1.5 m, and sleeping places for pets.
3. Delta Zone - Korean means in the form of suspension. Diluted in water and applied during wet cleaning. It has good antiparasitic effects with a long (up to 8 weeks) period of residual exposure and low levels of toxicity.
4. Aktibiol IGR flow (Spain) - a drug that allows to destroy the population of pests, as it contains an insect growth regulator. Available in the form of a suspension, diluted with water. To be applied to the surface by spraying or sponge. Odorless.
5. Tetrix (Netherlands) - a professional means of narrowly targeted mortal effects on blood-sucking parasites. Available in concentrated form. The prepared emulsion is sprayed or rubbed into the surface. Depending on proportions, it is successfully used both in highly contaminated areas and as a preventive measure.
6. Vergus (France) - a professional biochemical preparation for all crawling, galloping and flying insects, made on the basis of microcapsular technology. Its main advantage is a residual exposure period of up to 10 months, during which it exerts a deadly effect on insects.

Processing facilities specialists
When dealing with insects on their own, they often make the same mistake - they do not process hard-to-reach places where eggs and larvae are stored, which subsequently leads to re-infection. This is excluded if professionals are involved in this. Modern irrigation equipment - ULV-installations, GAP-generators spray active substances in the form of cold and hot mist - particles of ultra-small volumes with high penetrating power.

Disinsection housing specialists has several advantages:

• apply only certified professional means;
• use modern technologies for fumigation;
• the insecticide is sprayed in microdoses, deadly to insects, but safe for people and animals;
• to solve the problem in a complex;
• along with fleas, they kill other creeping pests - bedbugs, cockroaches, ticks, ants.
• advise on avoiding re-invasion.

Preventive measures

To get rid of the annoying neighborhood forever, it is important to remember and follow a number of rules.

Be sure to re-fumigate the premises after 2–3 weeks - during this period, the remaining eggs will turn into larvae. They need to be eliminated.

In the house, it is necessary to create barrier protection in the way of migration of a potential adversary - to treat with frightening preparations (repellents) ventilation pipes, door and window openings, gaps.

For the prevention of suitable absolutely harmless folk remedies. Spread fresh grass of wormwood, tansy, chamomile at baseboards, under furniture, on the lower shelves of cabinets, in ventilation ducts, dried - use as bedding for birds, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs. Good flea scare away cedar sawdust, fir with a sharp turpentine smell.

Constantly monitor the condition of pets and disinfect at the first sign of the appearance of fleas.

From time to time deratization of basements, sheds and other places of probable habitat of rodents. According to regulatory documents, this should be done at least once a year.

Ways to fight fleas in pets

Protecting your beloved pet from blood-sucking parasites, it is important to remember about a systematic approach and prevention.

To remove the settled population, shampoos, aerosols, and insecticide-based drops are used. Drugs are usually toxic, so when using, you must comply with the manufacturer’s specified safety measures. Carefully handle animals with low birth weight. Even a small overdose can lead to fatal consequences. According to consumer reviews, such means are effective:

1. Drops Stronghold (USA) - Low toxic repellent for treating cats and dogs. Apply a few drops to the withers.
2. Front line - high-quality, but rather toxic spray for dogs with a long period of residual exposure.
3. Harz (USA) - a popular line of products, represented by mild disinfecting shampoos, sprays, protective drops for cats and dogs, their offspring.
4. Canina Verminex (Germany) - agent based on biological ingredients, low toxic, suitable for cats, dogs, birds, rodents.

Protective function after the procedure of disinfection well perform special collars, soaked in natural repellents. Trademark products Celandine, Bayer, Canina, Bafar, Sarzhants have a validity period of 4 to 8 months.

How to get rid of earthen fleas

Our review will be incomplete if we don’t touch upon the problem of earth fleas that can cause irreparable damage to garden and garden crops. Especially like the voracious kozyavki plants from the cruciferous family - cabbage, radishes, daikon, mustard, horseradish.

Common with this flea insect is only jumping abilities and small size. In reality, it is a beetle that feeds on the leaves and stems of plants, sucking the juice out of it. Hibernates in fallen leaves, here it lays eggs, larvae mature. In the spring, as soon as the sun warms up, the hungry bugs jump out of the litter, attacking the plants - hence the popular name of earth fleas.

If you do not fight with the garden flea, it can destroy radish shoots, cabbage seedlings, lettuce, literally ridging the leaves with small punctures.

Several effective ways to deal with them
Spray the culture with insecticides Prestige, Calypso, Proteus company Bayer or any other drugs against the Colorado potato beetle. This should be done at the beginning of the growing season and the first appearance of pests.

From folk remedies effective infusions of walnut shells, tobacco dust, tansy, wormwood. They are treated aboveground part of the plant and watered at the root.

As a preventive measure, you can do the following:

• Abundantly watering the beds early in the morning with cold water - this type of flea is afraid of an overabundance of moisture.
• Next to the cruciferous plant garlic, potatoes, tobacco, celandine.
• Observe crop rotation.

Experience has shown that even careful hygienic rules and impeccable care for pets do not give an absolute guarantee against the penetration of blood-sicking parasites into the house. But timely detection and adequate measures will allow you to get out of an unpleasant situation as a winner and with minimal losses.

Video: how to remove fleas in the apartment of folk remedies