The warm climate makes fleas a common and year-round problem for people in Alabama. These tiny insects cannot only be a nuisance to you and your pets, but they can also be hazardous to your health. At EnSec, we provide customized pest control in Mobile and know how to eliminate fleas from your home.
The Life Cycle Of The Common Flea
The common flea has four different stages of life. Each stage lasts for a different amount of time. Here is a look at the life cycle of the fleas that can be found in your home:
- Egg: The female flea must consume blood and mate with a male before laying an egg. If they take their blood meal from an animal, they will usually lay their eggs underneath the fur. The egg will usually take one to ten days to hatch. If the climate is warm and humid, the flea egg will hatch sooner.
- Larva: Once the egg hatches, a larva will emerge. The larva has limited mobility and will stay primarily in the area where it was hatched for the first 5 to 20 days. During this time, the larva will feed on blood and flea droppings until it is developed enough to go to the next stage of life.
- Pupa: When the larva is ready for the next stage of life, it will spin a cocoon and enter the pupal stage. This is when the larva is transforming into an adult. The pupa stays inside the cocoon during this entire stage, and the cocoon will protect the pupa from environmental conditions and pesticides. The pupa stage will last for several weeks.
- Adult: When the pupa grows into an adult, it will stay in the cocoon until it senses that there is a blood host nearby.
Having a blood source nearby is extremely important for female fleas. Once the female flea emerges from the cocoon, it will search for a blood meal, mate, and begin laying eggs.
Can Fleas Bite People?
Fleas can and will bite any mammal that has warm blood pulsing through its veins. When a flea lands on an animal, like a cat or a dog, the flea will live on its host for days or weeks. When it comes to humans, however, the flea will usually jump on the person's skin, bite them, and then jump off.
How Do Fleas Find Their Way Into Homes?
There are a few different reasons why you may have fleas inside your home. The most common way is for your pet to pick up a flea while they are outside and unknowingly bring it into your home. You can also pick up fleas by buying second-hand furniture or clothing that came from a flea-infested home.
The Best Way To Completely Eliminate A Flea Infestation
Fleas are sneaky, tiny insects that are difficult to get rid of on your own. They are able to hide in some of the most hard-to-reach places in your home. They also go through a stage of life that keeps them safe from common pesticides and other pest control solutions.
If you want to get rid of fleas in your Mobile home completely, you will need the help of an experienced pest control specialist. At EnSec, we have decades of experience successfully eliminating fleas in this area. Give us a call today for a free inspection and free estimate.