Fleas This Time Of Year?

Evans Pest Control reports a big uptick in flea infestations this winter. Usually, flea problems are not too bad in the winter, but not this winter! So why is it that we are seeing many more fleas this winter in Philadelphia? Read on…

Fleas lay eggs on a mouse or rat host. A flea’s life cycle can be broken down into four parts: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The adult lays eggs on a host, often a rodent, which then fall off wherever the mouse frequents (your house). When these eggs hatch into larvae, the larvae hunker down in your carpet, feed, and go through several molts until they spin a cocoon and become pupae. Eventually, from the pupae emerge adult fleas, which then seek out you or your pet for a blood meal. This process takes about 20 days. Evans Pest Control has recorded the most rodent infestation cases this winter than ever before in Philadelphia. Since we have noticed this huge wave of rodent infestations, it is understandable why we are also seeing a big rise in fleas as well. Rodents bring with them more than themselves, they also start flea infestations as well. If you are having a problem with inching and bites… it could be fleas - this is what we are seeing a lot of, says Charles Evans of Evans Pest Control.

Fleas are not picky eaters. Fleas are happy to make a meal of dogs, cats, and even people. While a lot of people have encountered fleas, they often know very little about them. Fleas are quite a problem for pet owners and pets, fleas are hard to eradicate insects.

Fleas transmit diseases dangerous to people. Fleas are carriers of all sorts of bacteria, including the bacteria that cause disease in people. One of them is Bartonella Henselae, the bacteria responsible for cat scratch disease.
Fleas transmit parasites dangerous to pets. Fleas can also carry parasites, which they then transmit to their hosts. Tapeworms are transmitted by fleas. When dogs and cats swallow fleas, they can get tapeworms.