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Flea Identification & Prevention

What are fleas?

Fleas are external parasites that bite through the skin of their warm-blooded hosts to feed on their blood. The two most common species of fleas are the dog flea and cat flea, but regardless of their names, both feed on practically the same hosts. The cat flea is more widespread, and the species most likely to infest your yard, home, or pets.

Though the flea is tiny, they have a hard exterior shell and their body is flattened from side to side to prevent them from being squished. Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Their large back legs help them move through fur, and their legs enable them to jump easily onto their hosts and move out of danger. Fleas will feed on people if animals aren't around, but we aren't the flea's main target, and they much prefer to feed on the blood of animals like dogs, cats, rodents, and wild animals.

Are fleas dangerous?

Fleas bring many dangers with them; they are more than just an annoyance. Fleas spread parasites like tapeworms and can also spread diseases to people like murine typhus and tularemia.

The biggest threat to people, however, is allergic reactions to flea saliva. Flea bites are known to be itchy, and scratching at the bite sites can create scabbing and scarring. On our pets, a large flea infestation can cause loss of fur and anemia.

Having fleas jumping around our yard or inside our home is unsettling and makes people unable to relax and recharge.

Why do I have a flea problem?

The most likely culprit of your flea infestation is the presence of wild animals, specifically rodents. Mice and other rodents tend to carry high populations of fleas in their fur. When they move across your lawn or into your home, flea eggs will drop to the ground, where they develop into new biting fleas. Fleas are often moved from one indoor space to another in items like rugs and upholstered furniture.

Where are fleas commonly found?

Fleas spend their adult lives on the body of a host, feeding, and breeding. Before finding a host, newly hatched fleas hang out in dark shady areas. Spaces under decks, shrubs and bushes, leaf piles, dense vegetation, and sandy soil are common spots that harbor these pests.

After fleas find a way into your home, they live on a host (usually a pet) or hide in rugs, bedding, upholstered furniture, or linens. Outside it is rare for fleas to bite people, but when they are in our home, it is more common for them to use us as a food source. Fleas are also typically found living outdoors. These pests enjoy moist, shaded areas, much like ticks, and often find their way into homes after jumping onto people or our pets. However, these pests also regularly find their way inside homes in used furniture or rugs that are infested with flea eggs or adult fleas. Unlike ticks, fleas can live successfully inside, typically choosing to infest the areas around pet beds and the places where your pets spend most of their time.

How do I get rid of fleas?

Get help reducing flea numbers around your yard and eliminate them from your home with the help of the pest professionals at Anthem Pest Control. Our goal is to keep pests like fleas out of your home and away from your family! Servicing Greater Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Greenville, we are a local pest control company that understands the needs of home and business owners in our region. We are committed to eliminating pests and providing our customers with some peace of mind knowing we will solve their pest problems. To learn more about our effective pest control services backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, reach out to us today.

How can I prevent fleas in the future?

Controlling flea numbers is best done with the help of an experienced professional. In addition to the flea control services at Anthem Pest Control, the following tips will help you make your property less attractive to fleas.

Get rid of leaf piles, grass piles, brush piles, and other debris that provides fleas with moisture and hiding spots.
Keep the grass in your yard cut short to help keep the ground drier and less conducive to flea activity.
Regularly vacuum your floors and upholstered furniture to remove stray fleas that have found a way into your home.
Routinely wash your bedding and pet bedding on a high heat cycle.
Seal spaces in your home's exterior where flea-covered rodents could could enter your house.
If you own pets, place them on a year-round flea preventative program and regularly groom them.