We have been using this bi-weekly and treating our cat monthly with revolution. I have not seen a live flea in a few weeks but I do see bite marks on my children and myself. I know it is finally slowing down. I guess my question is if we are doing the right things (treating the home-spraying everywhere by moving furniture and our indoor cat), how long do you think it will take to be gone with it? We let our cat roam everywhere and we’re in each room daily. It is so much work, just want them gone for good.

Based on the information you’ve provided, I would expect your problem to last around 3-6 more weeks. I say this because from what you included in your message, it would appear that you’re doing most everything you can and that you’re making positive progress. Your pet is still in the area, you’ve treated the home, you’ve treated the pet and for now, you seem to be content in letting the products do their thing. At this time it’s anyone’s guess just how many pupae are still left in your home developing and getting ready to hatch. And as our article explains, this is important.

Now in case you didn’t yet read up on the FLEA CYCLE, I suggest you do so. In this reading you’re learn about the four stages of fleas along with how we’re able to get quick control three stages but not all four. In fact it’s that third stage, the FLEA PUPAE, which enables the flea to be so persistent and problematic. And I’m sure it’s this third stage you’re still dealing with for the time being. The good news is if the products that have been applied to the pet and home were used properly, no new fleas should be developing. And in the end, this is critical if you want to break the life cycle of this pest.

Regarding the flea bites you and your kids are still seeing; it’s quite possible this will continue to happen for the next few weeks as the last of the pupae hatch. As our reading explains, the pupae will only hatch when they sense a target and people will no doubt provide a good blood meal for any flea. But since there isn’t a lot of good areas for a flea to live on a person, they commonly hatch onto a person, bite and leave. In the end the only evidence they leave is the bite mark. Unfortunately this will continue to happen until the last of the pupae hatch but again, if they’re not able to successfully develop in the home or on the pet, pupae hatching won’t matter. They’re just a pain you’ll need to deal with for a short time but soon they too should be gone.

Now once they jump off you and onto the floor, the treatments you stated are in place should handle the rest so in theory, they should not be able to repopulate.

Hope this helps and better explains what to expect regarding this nasty pest. In closing, you may want to get some FLEA TRAPS installed throughout the home. These do a wonderful job of monitoring the premises so should a flea problem begin to develop, you can see evidence of it long before it becomes a major ordeal.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Life Cycle:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control#flea_cycle

Flea Pupae:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control#pupae

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

 My husband and I recently uthenized our dog and two weeks later we start getting bites and come to the realization that we have fleas.

I had no idea that our dog had fleas, I think that she did not have fleas as we just moved into a new house a year ago and I’m thinking the fleas were here previously none the less we now have fleas.

My husband and I vacuumed the house upside and down and the next day we had a Pest Control service person come in and spray the house. They used a growth regulator and some other type of chemical that gets rid of fleas. The next day I found a flea again so I called them and they came back again 2 days later. Next day my husband and I vacuumed the house again and I am still finding fleas. While we do not have a huge infestation I have seen 2 fleas in the past two days they are still here.

I have a 8 month old baby and thank goodness they are not biting her only me mostly it seems and my husband a little.

I am now using salt on the rugs. We have no carpet in our home we have hardwood everywhere and laminate in the basement but I do have rugs. I am planning on vacuuming again tomorrow and perhaps buying flea bombs as well and trying to purchase some other products that you have suggested.

I have a few questions:

Is this ever going to go away? I feel like a prisoner in my home to a flea.

Do I have to wash every piece of clothing, curtains etc in my home?

Should I ask for my money back from the Pest Control service?

I would appreciate your input.

Thank you so much.

If you read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE you’ll learn more about what is happening. Basically it’s the flea pupae (third stage of the flea) that’s causing all the issues. Since there is no pet around for them to target, they will all end up on any people present. In most cases this will be one of the local residents and for the time being, it seems like you are their prime target. As our article explains, this is quite normal. Generally it’s the woman in the house that bears the brunt of the flea attacks once a pet is removed.

More importantly, since there is no way to kill them (flea pupae that is), there is no need to keep spraying which isn’t safe for you or your baby. No doubt a good treatment was needed and from what you included in your message above, it would appear that there has been plenty of material applied so I would refrain from any more treatments for the near future. As for your questions and what to do? Here is my response.

First, the problem will in fact go away. Since fleas only live a short while, the pupae will eventually run out and with a good treatment in place, there is no way any flea eggs can develop so in theory the local flea cycle should be broken. Normally this will take 2-4 weeks; in bad cases 4-8 weeks.

Second, there is no need to wash anything beyond what you normally would do.

Third, whether you ask for your money back from the service company your hired or not is a personal decision. If they told you they’d treat once and you’d never see another flea, then you might consider going that route. Of course this would be a huge mistake on their part and risky to say the least because most any “real” flea infestation will take time to run it’s course and it’s perfectly normal for the customer to see more following any treatment. And in cases where the pet is no longer present? These are no doubt the worse.

Lastly, there is a couple of things you should do to help get the rest of the flea pupae to hatch out. The first is continue to vacuum. As our article explains, this will get the pupae to hatch and in the end, this is what you need to happen for the problem to “run out” and be done. You should also install several FLEA TRAPS around the home. These will also get the pupae to hatch because the pupae will perceive the trap as a small animal that’s laying on the ground. Flea Traps will help collect any rogue fleas as well as get the pupae to hatch and by making the trap the target instead of yourself, you can no doubt break the cycle with a lot less fleas bothering you or your family. I also suggest you read our Flea Control article so you can better educate yourself regarding this pest. Knowing what to expect will make dealing with the problem a lot easier. Good luck!

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn that in fact fleas do not migrate or leave their host. Instead they’d much rather want to live out their life where they can stay protected, keep warm and have plenty to eat. That would be on a dog, cat or some other animal. Even in the cases where people are being bit the fleas involved do not want to stay on the target person; there is rarely enough to keep them satisfied beyond the food people supply so they’ll usually bite and jump away.

As for the “black droppings” you claim to have found; this is normal to see on any infested pet and if the pet isn’t treated, flea eggs and pupae would be falling off it as it moved about throughout the day. In fact, it’s all the flea eggs and pupae that fall off it which poses the potential for problems to arise.

Which leads me to your home. If your house is properly treated with some ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES and you have some FLEA TRAPS installed, there is little chance of a problem developing even if flea infested dogs where present. So if you’d like her and her pets to come visit, get the home treated as our article explains and there will be no reason for concern.

As for your sisters home; it is quite possible for pets living there to harbor the flea problem and not the home itself. And as our article explains, it’s normal for fleas to ignore certain people yet be attracted to others so maybe they like you and not her. One way to find out for sure is to go to her home and see if you get fleas on you. If you do, there is no doubt a problem. But does that mean there is a problem? Well, maybe for you but what about your sister? I would say no if they’re not interested in biting her. And guess what? This situation exists and is quite common.

In fact I have a brother who doesn’t care at all that his home gets fleas because they’re not interested in biting him or his wife. For some reason the fleas ignore him but no one wants to go inside his house because it can be so bad. My other brother is immune to mosquito bites so when we sit outside his house, he doesn’t get bit while me and others get eaten alive! In this case he clearly has mosquitoes active but in his mind, it’s our problem and not his. Don’t be surprised if something like this is happening with your sister and her house as this scenario is quite common and exists all over.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Once A Year Flea Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

We get this question quite a bit. A hard freeze will kill most any exposed insect. And if it didn’t kill them, it would at least make it immobile which in turn would contribute to it’s death. And fleas are no different. But will cold weather “cure” a flea problem? No way!

Mother nature has designed insects to be able to withstand the environment in many ways. Even in regions that get freezing cold for several months, at some point if they warm above the freezing point there will be some insects that emerge and get active. That being said, cold weather will no doubt “turn off” most any insect effectively shutting down their internal functions. Sometimes they can rebound in any one calendar year but for most, it will lead to their end.

Since fleas have a short life span anyway (7 days or less), many are dying daily whether it’s cold or not. And flea larvae are even more susceptible to the environment which means the cold will no doubt affect them big time. But as explained in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, there is nothing that can kill a flea pupae so they’ll remain in the yard ready to go. That means the next time it’s warm out they could start hatching thus creating the problem all over again.

And since it only takes one flea outside to cause a major problem inside, the prospect of getting a flea problem inside the home is always present – even in the middle of winter! In other words, if you or your pet went outside on a warm day and got a flea pupae to hatch onto your clothing or skin, you could very well bring it inside and initiate a problem. So too could the cat.

So to answer your question, yes, a good cold night can kill some fleas. But no way will this mean they’re gone for the season and though it will help to reduce local populations, fleas will still be present in some phase ready to prosper once the weather warms again.

If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn how easy it is to get fleas. And in this case it’s just as simple: someone brought a flea into the home which laid eggs! As our article explains, once the eggs hatch it’s game over unless the area where the fleas are hatching has been treated. So lets go over the “short list” of how this could have happened. Mind you I’m keeping this “short”.

1) You or one of your family members brought into your home a flea which laid eggs or dropped pupae in your home.

2) A visiting person or pet brought in a flea that laid eggs or dropped pupae in your home.

3) A bit of clothing or other item transported a pregnant flea into your home which laid eggs.

4) A flea hopped into your home and started laying eggs.

That’s it. I know this doesn’t provide a precise answer but in fact if you have active fleas hatching out of your carpet it means one of the four scenario’s listed above played out (the only one I didn’t list is that it is possible a very evil person came and “planted” flea pupae in your home but this is highly unlikely). And as our Flea Control Article explains, it only takes one pregnant flea laying eggs for the home and/or yard to become a flea generator. This means the time involved is right on schedule as well. Let me explain.

The average yard has a flea or two active somewhere in the grass or mulch. This is especially true when it’s not treated for fleas and it’s warm outside. Squirrels, rats, mice, chipmunks, birds, neighboring cats, neighboring dogs, raccoons and many other wandering animals during the summer leave a trail of fleas and flea eggs where they’re active. That means most yards will have a flea or at least a flea stage in it. Now as our article explains, fleas really don’t want to be on people but in fact prefer animals. That means these common “yard fleas” are mostly never seen or noticed by the average home owner (they’ll choose the local animals over the residents of the home). But as soon as a pet comes to the area, the local fleas will be attracted to it like a magnet. If I was to guess, I’m willing to bet the visiting pets attracted some local fleas. This no doubt happened the very first day they went out in the yard around your property. These fleas hitched a ride on the visiting pets this is most likely how they got inside. Once inside most of them would die if they stayed on the pet AND the Frontline was still plenty active. But lets say the Frontline had worn off and lets say just one flea fell off the pet inside the home. If this flea had fed prior to coming inside it could be ready to lay eggs. That means it’s quite possible the very first day these pets came to your home they could have picked up a flea that was pregnant and hadn’t fed once on the Frontline treated animal. Now if it started laying eggs, these eggs would have been active and surely some of them could have fallen into your carpeting.

A similar scenario that’s even more likely is that the flea which came inside didn’t have to feed. If this flea had fed on another untreated animal but then got on one of the visiting pets, it would not be affected by the Frontline and could in fact lay normal flea eggs. No doubt this happens more than people imagine which is why it’s important to treat all areas where a pet has access.

Now going back to our timeline; our article clearly explains it only takes 7 days for fleas to run a full cycle and as your message states, your guests were there for one week. One week is 7 days  which is plenty of time. Now when your guests leave and the developing fleas are ready to hatch, the pets are gone so what do you think the flea pupae will do? They’ll go to the closest alternate food supply and in fact that will be you and your family members.

In summary, what you’re describing is all too common. For some reason people conclude that just because an animal is using Frontline that everything else will be spared a flea infestation. But even the makers of Frontline want the home and the yard treated as part of a complete flea program and since neither of these areas were addressed before your guests arrived, it’s no wonder you’re infested. I suggest you get the Flea Granules for inside the home, several Flea Traps and get everything controlled again. More importantly, I’d be sure to do the same BEFORE you have guests arrive with a pet if you wish to avoid this problem again.

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Flea Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-2-lb

This is an easy one. If you read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn once the pet left, the developing fleas will have no place to go but focus in on people. Until all the pupae in your apartment are gone, expect more of the same.

You’ll also learn in our article there is no way to kill flea pupae and the only way to get rid of them is to vacuum and/or wait for all of them to hatch. The good news is hardwood floors are easy to vacuum and clean which will effectively remove all the flea eggs, larvae and pupae. This will help tremendously. But I also suggest you set out 2-4 FLEA TRAPS to help speed the process by getting any pupae left behind to hatch sooner rather than later.

Lastly, there is usually no need to treat when one only have hardwood floors so I see no need to change that approach now. Adding to the list of reasons not to treat is the fact that you’re pregnant so as I see it, a good vacuuming and some Flea Traps will be your best solution.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Fleas can’t live on a person as long as they shower and wash their hair daily. This simple act alone will remove all the debris, flea eggs and pupae as well as kill larvae and adult fleas. If for some reason she isn’t yet on this schedule, make sure you get her to do so for now on. This will insure the fleas aren’t reproducing on her.

And once you know they’re not reproducing on her, it will mean there must be a “flea generator” somewhere in the home. If it was the pet, the fleas would stay on it so there is no surprise the pet is flea free and your daughter is having the problem. But the fact that the pet isn’t accumulating fleas is a clue as to what is probably happening. In other words: your daughter is seemingly going somewhere the dog isn’t and this other location is where the fleas are sitting in their pupae stage waiting to come out. This means the key for you will be to identify this location and get it treated.

To help identify this location, I suggest you set out some FLEA TRAPS around the home. These will attract hatched fleas as well as get flea pupae to hatch. Leave them out in one location for 2-4 days and if you’re close to the flea generator, the trap will catch some. If you don’t trap fleas any after 4 days, move the traps at least 20 feet to another location in home. Rotate them out over and over so that all areas  of the home are eventually covered and at one point you’ll locate an area which is releasing fleas. Once this area is found, you’ll need to treat using either the PERMETHRIN and NYLAR spray or the ONCE A YEAR FLEA POWDER listed in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE.

My guess is there is some piece of furniture like a couch, chair, bed or sofa which your daughter is using but the dog does not climb upon. It could also be a specific room in the home. Regardless, as our article explains, the pupae can live on anything for 6-12 months waiting for a target to arrive and when it does, they’ll hatch and jump on the target. In this case the target sounds like it’s your daughter. And only until all the pupae have hatched will the problem be gone so unfortunately, it sounds like you have some work to do in order to get rid of them.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Permethrin 10:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10

Nylar:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/igr/igr-nylar

Once a Year Flea Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-2-lb

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control#once-a-year-treatment

Go with the ONCE A YEAR FLEA POWDER and FLEA TRAPS. By far the most effective. Combine this with the fact that it’s odorless, nothing that will cause you to have to evacuate the house for any length of time and that it won’t hurt the carpet, this is really the best way to treat. The Traps will really help speed up the removal of the pupae too so be sure and have enough installed.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Once a Year Flea Treatment:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-2-lb

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Inside Flea Control:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control#once-a-year-treatment

If you read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn all the gory details of this persistent pest. In the article we explain that under ideal conditions, fleas can grow rapidly. When the right mix of temperature, moisture and food are present, fleas can go from egg to adult in as little as 7 days. But 2 days? Not likely.

But in our article we also point out that in general, fleas will almost always choose to live on a pet over a person. So if you had fleas on your person when you went to the house, it’s entirely possible some got off you and into your friends house. From there some would surely end up on her cats. But to the extent that the cats would become “infested” from your visits? That would be a tough level to reach in just two days.

Now if you carried over 1000+ fleas on your person when you were there Monday, it’s definitely possible a couple of hundred fell off you and into her home. But I’m guessing you normally don’t go about your business with a 1000+ fleas hitching a free ride as you go to work or run errands, correct? But what about 1-2 fleas? Is it possible that 1-2 or even 3-4 could hop on you at home and then hitch a ride around town with you without being noticed? Maybe. But even then only 1-2 would end up on her cats so in the end, it’s highly unlikely you could get them so thoroughly “infested” in just two days.

At this point you think you’re “off the hook”, right? Well, not that fast…

Of course, it’s also possible there was a massive hatching of flea pupae in the day or two your friend was at the hospital which has lead to the problem the cats are now facing.  In fact, this happens all the time in most every home that “gets infested”. As our flea control article explains, one pregnant flea will lay hundreds of eggs and after these eggs hatch and go through their course of development, at one point they’ll become biting adults. Not surprisingly most can become adults around the same time as their brothers and sisters. And when this happens, pets will seemingly become infested overnight!

Which brings us back full circle. Yes it’s true that you alone could not have gotten these cats infested in just two days. But how about two weeks or a month? That’s right, if you were over your friends house two weeks ago or even a month ago, it’s entirely possible one pregnant flea jumped off you and into her home where hundreds of eggs could have been laid. If that happened, it’s entirely possible those eggs could have all evolved into adult fleas around the same time which just so happened to be when your friend was at the hospital!

So in the end, my best guess is that these cats got the current flea problem from a massive hatching that just now occurred in the home. As to who brought in the flea that laid all the eggs leading this infestation? That’s the $64,000.00 question and I’m pretty sure no one can answer that question with any certainty.

Read up on all you’d ever want to know on fleas here:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn fleas can breed in carpeting, furniture or on pets. But in fact hardwood and tile floors are not one of these common locations. But even if they are by chance infested, it’s an easy fix. As our article exlains, all you need to do is vacuum them! That right; any decent vacuum will remove all the eggs, pupae and adult fleas as well as all the material fleas need to feed. So in summary,  you don’t need any special agent or compound to clean the hardwood or tiled areas in your home but what you do need is a good vacuum.

Once the area is vacuumed out, installing some FLEA TRAPS would be suggested. These will do a great job of monitoring the rooms and any that catch fleas would be warning that something more needs to be done where the fleas are being caught. In most cases Flea Traps will at least catch a few but in many they’ll turn out to be a significant player in solving the problem. And of course, don’t forget the pets. As our article explains, pets are one of the biggest reasons for fleas in the first place and complete flea control can never be achieved unless they’re dealt with appropriately on the host pet.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page22.html

What do you reccomend? We’re being driven crazy! Not to mention losing sleep.

If you take some time to read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, one of sections of the article goes over the “do’s and don’ts” of flea control. One of the most important points we make is that by removing your pet or pets from rooms where fleas are active will cause the fleas present to start biting any people still there. So until the problem is resolved, if you don’t let the animals have free roam throughout the house, I’m afraid you and your son will continue getting bit. But if you return the pets and allow them to be active in these rooms, the fleas will assuredly choose the pets over the people 99% of the time.

Second, since you have mostly linoleum and wood floors in your home, the best course of action will be threefold. First, vacuum everything really, really well. Without carpeting it will be easy to remove most all flea debris, eggs, pupae and adults with a solid, well working vacuum. This is very important. Second, since some flea pupae will most certainly get into the cracks and crevices of the wood floor, treating with PRECOR 2000 would be needed. This aerosol contains a growth regulator and therefore will stop the flea cycle. It can be used throughout the entire house and you must make sure you get all the furniture the pets have access too. Third, set out 3-4 FLEA TRAPS around the home to help collect any rogue fleas. The traps will also help break the cycle by causing the flea pupae to hatch sooner rather than later.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Precor 2000:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page246.html

Flea Traps: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page22.html

If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn some key yet often times unknown facts about fleas. One of the big ones is that in general, fleas don’t “hang” out in the open like the grass in a yard. What’s most likely out there would be eggs, larvae and pupae. And this would only be true of larvae and pupae if the conditions are right for them to survive past the “egg” stage. As our article explains, these guys need a lot of water, humidity and food to live past the larval stage. Now if they do survive this stage, they’ll then pupate and when ready to hatch, they’ll only do so when a meal is close by so they can jump on it and feed. The key here is that they’ll only hatch out to an adult when food is close by and not because they’re ready to hatch.

So to answer your question we need to look at the impact rain has on the four stages of the flea’s development. The first stage, eggs, are probably not affected much. If anything, the rain might pick up some and relocate them elsewhere as the water runs down gullies and drains off your property. No doubt some will be relocated to an environment where they won’t stand a chance at survival. But surely some will relocate to ideal conditions so in the end rain can’t directly kill eggs but indirectly it could have a big impact on what happens to any group of eggs.

The next stage, larvae, are small little worm like creatures which are very weak and vulnerable. They need protection from the weather including extreme sun and rain. No doubt flea larvae probably suffer from a hard downpour. In fact, this stage is probably the one that suffers the most from a good rain.

The third stage, the pupae, is much like a flea egg in that it’s protected and secure. Rain, sun and other weather won’t much affect it directly in the short term. And though rain might carry it away to a somewhere more remote destination, flea pupae spend all their time waiting for a meal to come by. Meals can be in the form of a cat, dog, squirrel, chipmunk, raccoon, deer and basically any mammal including people. And they can wait a long time. Upwards to a year or more. All this while you never know they’re out there laying and lurking but if any type of food comes close enough, it will instinctively hatch and jump onto it’s “meal ticket”.

Lastly, the adults are no doubt badly affected by direct rain. It will probably kill most any out in the open but as stated above, adult fleas don’t make a habit of staying out in the open. Remember, adults only want to feed, mate and lay eggs. Most die within a few days of hatching from their pupae casing and for the ones that last 1-2 weeks, they’ll only be able to do so if they’re well protected on some animal’s skin where they’ll be feeding and laying eggs.

So in summary, rain doesn’t really do much “killing” of fleas. In fact, we feel rain really does nothing but make the overall flea problems worse. Having been in the business for over 30 years, I’ve seen a definite pattern between the rain and the fleas. That pattern is simple: more rain, more fleas. In fact, I think it’s safe to say more rain, more bugs! No doubt water is essential for most insects and rainy years are undoubtedly “worse” for most people. Of course for us in the bug business, rain is a good thing

Here is a direct link to our Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

It’s fairly common to have a cat which gets some fleas so don’t feel too badly. The key is to take care of the problem once it starts so the pet doesn’t have to suffer needlessly. The ONCE A YEAR FLEA TREATMENT is a great way to treat the house. It’s easy to apply, safe to the people and pets inside and lasts a long time. When done properly, treatments should last a year or more.

FLEA TRAPS should be installed if you’re seeing fleas throughout the house which you didn’t mention. As explained in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, the pupae of the flea cannot be killed so seeing some following the treatment is to be expected. A few fleas would be tolerable but if you think there are too many around, set out some traps to help minimize this last phase of the problem. Usually within a few weeks the average problem is handled and no longer active.

Fleas have been quite active the past month so you’re not alone. If you have a pet that goes outside, there is a good chance that it will be bringing in some fleas. If the home isn’t pre treated with one of the products we have listed in our FLEAS ARTICLE, an infestation could blossom.

Clearly the ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES are one of the best and easiest things you can do to treat the problem. They’re both easy to apply, long lasting and highly effective. But since they don’t kill adults, they do require some patience as you must wait for hatching pupae to run their course before the activity subsides. This can be quite painful if you have a lot of fleas.

To help deal with the current adult and hatching pupae, it’s perfectly OK to spray over the top with some PERMETHRIN. This will offer immediate relief and won’t affect the granules. Setting out some FLEA TRAPS can also help reduce the activity and is strongly recommended. In the end, it’s usually a combination of both that will do the trick for fast results even though the granules by themselves will do the job over time.

Lastly, it should be OK to spray any furniture where fleas have been seen. If the fabric on the furniture is smooth, a good vacuuming on it will usually get rid of all the fleas, eggs and larvae so you shouldn’t have to spray it but if you insist, test it first by spraying the underside of a cushion to see that the fabric is OK getting wet. Remember, it’s mostly water you’re spraying so if the fabric can withstand water, it should be fine. Good luck!

Flea control is all about egg control as explained in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE. Once you understand what is happening, you should understand that using either the FLEA GRANULES or the PERMETHRIN with NYLAR will be required. And based on what you’re describing, I expect you’ll have to treat 2-3 times to get rid of them once and for all. FLEA TRAPS will probably help too since they get flea pupae to hatch out that much faster.