FLEAS

INTRODUCTION

Fleas are the insects forming the order Siphonaptera. They are wingless, with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals and birds.

Some flea species include:

• cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
• dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis)
• human flea (Pulex irritans)
• moorhen flea (Dasypsyllus gallinulae)
• northern rat flea (Nosopsyllus fasciatus)
• oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis)

FLEA LIFE CYCLE

DISEASES CAUSE BY FLEAS

•The most noted flea-related disease are typhus fever and plague.

•The most notable flea in these disease is probably the Xynopsylla cheopis also known as oriental rat flea which carry Yersinia pestis as a pathogen.

HOW TO CONTROL

Physical Control

•Vacuuming on a daily basis removes eggs, larvae and adults, thereby reducing flea numbers.

•Pet bedding should be washed in hot soapy water every two or three weeks.

•Old bedding should be discarded and replaced.

•Combing pets with a fine-toothed flea comb.Comb around the head and neck of the pet and the base of the tail.

•Fleas caught in the comb can be killed by immersing them in soapy water.

•In the case of heavy infestations, a combination of physical and chemical controls are often required to control the problem.

Chemical Control

•Apply pesticideonly to infested areas.

•People and pets should be out of the house when treatments are made, and not return until the treated spray surfaces have dried.

•Exterminate fleas with boric acid. Boric acid has long been used as a natural flea treatment. Sprinkling it all over the floors or carpeted. Vacuum the floors between 2 and 24 hours later