The life cycle of the flea is similar to that of a moth – egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon) and adult. A newly hatched adult flea is unfed, small, black and aggressive – some people mistakenly refer to these as ground or sand fleas. After they have had a blood meal, fleas lighten in colour and become larger. For every flea on your pet there may be hundreds waiting to hatch!

Sometimes flea treatments appear to be ineffective as small black fleas are seen after the treatment.  This is because the pupae are quite resistant to chemicals.  Fleas continue to hatch because insecticides cannot penetrate the flea pupal case.  Ten fleas can potentially reproduce to 250,000 in only 30 days!

The solution for successful flea control is:

Treatment of the pet and the pet’s environment (if necessary in and outside the house) along with some patience.

Fleas lay eggs on the pet when the host is resting.  The white eggs fall off the pet onto the carpet, soil etc.  Small blind larvae emerge from the eggs.  These larvae move away from the light, burrowing down into the carpet, cracks in floorboards or into the soil.  They feed on protein, such as flea droppings of partly digested blood.  They moult three times before forming a pupa.  The larva changes into the adult in the pupa.  The pupa is sticky, so it binds its surrounds to itself, becoming invisible.

In summer, a flea may be ready to hatch from the pupa about 7-14 days after it is formed, however they can remain dormant for up to 18 months.  Hatching of the flea from the pupa is triggered by nearby movement, predominantly during warm, moist weather conditions. 

After feeding on the host, the engorged female flea is ready to mate and lay eggs – about 24 hours after hatching.  She is capable of laying up to 500 eggs (27 per day) over a lifetime which may span several weeks.

Why you should have a flea treatment...

Fleas are notorious for their torment of cats, dogs and people. They are famous for their ability to transmit disease. The most famous disease ever transmitted was the Black Death (bubonic plague) in the middle ages. Fleas pass disease from rat to rat and rat to human making both flea control and rodent control essential. Infections from flea bites on the legs of children and women are a common sight caused by excessive scratching. Flea allergy dermatitis is a disease in animals as a result of being allergic to the saliva of fleas. The same disease can also be seen in people. Heavy infestations of fleas on young animals can lead to iron insufficiencies (anaemia) and extreme circumstances of death from extreme blood loss. Several species of tape worms can also be transmitted by cat fleas. Flea larva infests the eggs of the tape worm which continue forming inside the body of the adult flea. When grooming, cats and dogs consume infected fleas which can potentially result in the formation of tape worms inside the pet.  Any flea infested animal must be wormed at the time of the flea treatment.

The NZ lifestyle of housing pets and outdoor living will ensure flea problems even in the cleanest of houses, especially during hot, humid summers.

Flybusters Antiants can easily treat floor areas and any infested outdoor area of your home and property but it is essential that your pets have a regular de-flea and worming at the same time with proper veterinary products.

A flea treatment will also enhance your fly control.

Flea Control - HELPFUL HINTS

• Treat your pets as soon as you can. You will get better results if all flea treatments – environmental and on-animal – are done around the same time.
• DO NOT AVOID FLEA INFESTED AREAS AFTER THE TREATMENT – YOU WILL REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT – especially remember the spare room, shed or places where the pet likes to rest.
• If you remove the pet, flea problems may appear to be worse – as you become the only potential host.
• It is best to treat before the numbers build up. There is no need to go through the discomfort of flea bites.
• Entering vacant houses will stimulate any fleas waiting to hatch. This is especially a problem with vacant rental and holiday houses.    
• If you are going on holidays, have a friend stomp through the house/yard several times while you are away, especially on the day of your return – the fleas will hatch and die on the treated surfaces before you return. (You will owe your friend big time.)
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