People Without Pets Get Fleas Too

If you don’t have pets, it may be challenging to pinpoint the exact origins of your flea infestation—especially since there’s no telling how long they’ve been there. Pupae can stay conveniently in their cocoons for over a year, only emerging when they sense a suitable host nearby. Unsuspecting victims can find themselves under assault in a newly purchased home or apartment if the previous residents failed to take precautionary measures. Unfortunately, starving fleas that have been denied a regular meal become highly aggressive, jumping up to 13 inches to bite at your feet and ankles.

They are most commonly found within the home; however, an infestation almost always starts outdoors. Outside of pets, they can enter your home on furniture or other used fabrics. Sometimes, they’ll even hitch a ride on you or your guests’ clothing. Though eggs and larvae can’t survive extreme weather or exposure to sunlight, they can find viable outdoor habitats that are humid, shaded, and shielded from the wind. Potential places include crawl spaces and dense vegetation. If your neighbor has a pet shelter in their yard, you are also exposed to infestations, as wild animals may easily transfer them.

One of the more common sources for homes without previous infestations is on the backs of wildlife. Many wild animals can track them into your home, including rodents that squeeze through tiny cracks or pipes. Raccoons, opossums, feral cats, and other common neighborhood animals often carry fleas, spreading them throughout the regions they inhabit. To deal with a persistent problem caused by wild animals, you’ll have to beat it at the source. Hiring a pest control professional to rid your home of mammalian pests can serve a two-fold purpose, freeing you of wanted guests and the fleas that accompany them.

They are found practically everywhere, from inside your home and in your backyard to sandy Caribbean beaches. Unlike other species, the vicious Chigoe flea will gladly take a human host, attacking vacationing beachgoers by penetrating the soles of their feet or the tender flesh between the toes. As they suck blood, their body swells 80-fold, causing intense pain to the host. 

 

Fleas are also common in everyday nature, and wild animal lovers should be wary, lest you want to invite them home with you. In a precautionary tale, John Lydon from the famous band the Sex Pistols found himself covered in bites after hanging out with the neighborhood squirrels near his home in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.

The continental U.S. is home to approximately 325 species, and 30 have been found in Indiana. March through December is Indiana’s flea season, making them an ever-present concern nearly year-round. If you find one, there are bound to be more. And just because you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. In truth, there are approximately 50 present for every one that is visible.

Adult fleas account for only 5% of the population. The other 95% consists of fleas that are at a point of their lifecycle that is invisible to the naked eye. Thus, it is not uncommon for homeowners to have a full-blown infestation before they are aware of a problem of any magnitude. Vacuuming is a great way to find them in your home, as the vibrations will stimulate and reveal them 

Once you find them in your home, the next step is to contact a pest control professional. Most of the time, the usual preventative measures and treatment plans aren’t enough. Particularly when other pests are the root of the problem, you may find yourself with a persistent infestation despite all the vacuuming and washing in the world. Homeowners in areas where rodents are a frequent headache will need to be especially vigilant and benefit from a preventative pest program. The experts at Bug Off Pest Pros are specially equipped to deal with all your pest control needs, from mammals to insects. Contact us today to learn more about our pest services and our 90-day re-treat warranty.