This year’s (so far) mild winter means flea season will likely start earlier than usual and that means you’ll need pest control in McKinney, TX to keep you, your family, and your pets from scratching through the spring and summer. Fleas can be carried into your home by pets and people and they aren’t afraid to make themselves known by jumping on and biting anything that moves. Their takeover of your home begins with an infestation of your yard that progresses to an infestation of your carpeting and furniture. Once they settle into your home, it’s time to call us at Stampede Pest Control in McKinney, TX to eliminate your flea problem. Here are 4 reasons why you need help:
1 – Fleas Breed Quickly And Efficiently
The primary goal of female fleas that reach maturity is to find a blood meal and then reproduce. Two days after a female has her first blood meal, she begins laying eggs. In general, adult fleas only live about 3 months, but in that time, a female can produce 5,000 or more eggs, which means a flea population in your home can expand exponentially over a short amount of time.
2 – Fleas Can Be Hard To Find
Adult fleas are very small, about 2.5 mm long. Though they can be seen with the naked eye, finding them on your furniture and carpeting can be close to impossible unless they’re actively jumping on you. Finding them on your dog or cat can be easier than finding them anywhere else because you can part their fur and see either the fleas themselves or their droppings. Flea droppings are tiny, dark-colored specks on your pet’s skin.
3 – Fleas Can Transmit Diseases
Flea bites are more than just itchy and irritating; for humans or animals who are allergic to them, the reaction can be severe and last longer than the temporary itching that most people experience. In addition to allergic reactions, fleas transmit diseases that include Bubonic Plague, tularemia, and murine typhus when they feed on diseased rats and other rodents. Some fleas even carry Hymenolepiasis tapeworm eggs, which can be ingested, along with the fleas, by pets and children.
4 – DIY Treatments Are Ineffective For Large Infestations
Treating flea infestations requires different directions of attack. Treating fleas on pets is vital and can be accomplished with the help of your veterinarian but you must treat your carpet, furniture, and lawn to completely rid yourself of your flea problem. And when you have a large infestation, the chemicals you can buy at a hardware store won’t be effective. Pest control experts have the right chemicals that will not only kill adult fleas but that will also interrupt the flea life cycle; and a pest expert will know exactly how much of those chemicals to use to ensure that your home isn’t treated more than is absolutely necessary.
The bottom line is that fleas are not something you can take care of by yourself. They are tiny and can live on anything or anyone that will provide them with a blood meal and spotting them can be difficult until you’ve got a full-blown infestation. If you suspect you have a flea problem, give us a call at Stampede Pest Control in McKinney, TX at (713) 714-6970, and don’t forget to visit us online at stampedepestcontrol.com to learn more about the pest control services we offer.