 It is estimated that pet owners alone spend over $1 billion each year controlling fleas. Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis, tape worms, secondary skin irritation and in extreme cases, anemia. Fleas pass through a complete life cycle consisting of egg, larva, pupa and adult. A typical population consists of 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae, and 5% adult. Completion of the life cycle from egg to adult varies from two weeks to eight months depending on the temperature, humidity, food, and species. Typical hosts are dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, oppossums, foxes, chickens and humans. Outdoor develoment occurs in sandy gravel soils. Sand and gravel are very suitable for larval development which is the reason fleas are erroneously called "sand fleas." Adult fleas may survive without a blood meal for two months up to one year. Control of fleas must involve treatment of the pet, home and yard, all in the same time period, in order to achieve optimum control. Although there are several species of fleas, control for all is the same. |
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