Female fleas are capable of laying eggs up to as many as 500 in their lifetime. They typically produce about 20 eggs each day. They will then grow into adult fleas within a couple of weeks. As you can imagine, a flea infestation can quickly grow inside of homes.

Killing adult fleas will not solve a flea problem. If you want to prevent or eliminate a flea infestation, you need to target and kill the flea eggs.

Flea Eggs on Floors

If you want to kill flea eggs in your home, you need to know where they are located and what they look like. You can then use flea sprays and powders on the areas.

Most flea eggs will be found on floors in your home. Even if laid on pets, they will easily slide off from the pet’s fur and settle on the floor. It also doesn’t matter if the floor is wooden or carpeted. Flea eggs are known to thrive in warm or moist environments. So, the eggs reach the floor cracks or the bottom of rugs and carpets, they have a greater chance for survival.

Pet Areas

Fleas are said to lay most of their eggs on their host’s nesting area. This means the area where the dog or cat frequently stays on, sleeps on, or rests. Common pet areas where fleas lay eggs are in kennels, pet beds, and directly onto pet’s fur. Pets that have thicker furs will be able to collect for eggs, as they settle in.

Furniture, Bedding, Clothes

If your pets jump onto beds and furniture, there is a chance you will have flea eggs there. Adult fleas and eggs will fall off on these locations when you pet is on them. Fleas are also known for feeding on humans. This means you may find flea eggs on clothing, bedding (sheets and pillows), and sometimes even on human hair.

Outdoors

As for the outdoors, the eggs from fleas like to lay eggs in moist, dark, shaded areas that are rarely disturbed. If these areas provide enough darkness and humidity, the eggs will thrive and grow into adults. Common areas are in shaded areas under trees and shrubs, fence lines, compost piles, and along the perimeter of your house or shed.

Fleas can cause a lot of irritation and discomfort when they infest pets. While there are a variety of fleas treatments for pets, one of more popular options is oral flea medication. These tablets can be given to dogs and cats to quickly kill fleas on their body. This will give yours pet some relief from bites.

In this article, we will discus the two most popular oral flea medications and how they work.

Oral Tablets for Fleas

Oral flea medications can help pet owners eradicate and prevent fleas, as well as other parasites, that cause harm to their pets. The insecticidal effects will start to work shortly after the pills are ingested. As with many other drugs, the active ingredients in these flea tablets will be stored your pet’s bloodstream or fat cells. When fleas bite, they will then ingest the substance. Here are two of the most common active ingredients in oral flea meds:

Nitenpyram

Nitenpyram is the active ingredient found in Novartis Capstar flea medication. Once pets are given this tablet, the active ingredient circulates in blood. It is passed to fleas when they feed. Nitenpyram is a neurotoxin that will affect the biting mature fleas on your pet’s body. The chemical effectively blocks the neural messaging along the central nervous system. After ingestion, death for adult fleas is almost instant. Within a half hour it will start working, and after four hours all fleas should be dead. The effects of one treatment will last for up to 48 hours.

Lufenuron

Lufenuron is used in the Program flea medication. When your pet is given this oral tablet, the active ingredient in stored in fat cells, and passed to adult fleas when they bite. This active ingredient in ingested by adult fleas, but only affects the eggs and larvae. Lufenuron is passed onto flea eggs before they are laid, and already hatched flea larvae can ingest it by feeding on their mother’s blood dropping. This pesticide will prevent larvae from ever being able to form an exoskeleton, so they can never pupate and reach adulthood.

Capstar (Nitenpyram)

One popular and effective oral flea medication is Capstar, and contains Nitenpyram for the active ingredient. It can be safely used on both cats and dogs, as long as they are at least four weeks old and weigh two pounds. This medication can be given with or without food. One pill a day can be administered to pets, and each treatment will last for 24-48 hours. Keep in mind, Capstar will only kill adult fleas. It is best used to give your pets immediate relief from flea bites, and not for lasting prevention. A package contains 6 tablets.

Program (Lufenuron)

Program is name brand for the other type of oral medication that uses lufenuron for the active ingredient. As mentioned, this is an insect development inhibitor, and will stop larvae from ever growing into adult fleas. This completely disrupts the life cycle of fleas, so no new generation adults can continue the infestation. Program is safe to administer to cats and dogs, with no known toxic effects. Tablets should only be given once a month. This makes Program is better for lasting flea control and prevention. A package of Program will contain 6 pills, which is enough to last for half a year.

There are various flea control products on the market, but most use synthetic insecticidal chemicals. If you want a natural flea control method, consider using essential oils. These all-natural oils can be used as flea killer and repellent.

There is a huge variety of essential oils, and some are more effective and others for controlling fleas. In this article, we will help you understand which oils are best for flea control.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are extracted through distillation from a variety of plants. They volatile aroma compounds, making them useful in a variety of applications including perfumes, food flavoring, incense, cleaning products, medicines, and insecticides.

Plants produce these oils for a number of different reasons, but one of them is to deter insects. Without the production of these oils as a defensive mechanism, herbivorous insects would devour these plants. We can harvest and concentrate these essential oils to use them for the same purpose of insect control.

Essential Oil as Flea Repellents & Insecticides

A variety of essential oils can be used as flea repellents. We find these oils pleasant smelling, but fleas can’t stand the scent. There are also a few oils with insecticidal properties, and are able to kill fleas on contact. The great thing about using essential oils for flea control is that they are safe for use around homes, pets, and children. In fact, most can even be applied topically to pets and clothing to repel fleas and sooth bites. However, it is important to keep in mind that undiluted essential oil can cause skin irritation.

Orange Oil & Orange Peel Extract

Orange oil is one of the few essential oils that will kill insects, including fleas, on contact. It is composed almost entirely out of the hydrocarbon limonene. Limonene is used as a botanical insecticide. Take a look at the active ingredients on natural flea sprays and shampoos, and you will often find substaces called D-limonene and Linalool. These are actually orange peel extracts. They work best to kill adult fleas and eggs.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus is an essential oil from trees of the same name. Eucalyptus oil can be used as both a biopesticide, and an insect repellent. Fleas do not like the scent of this essential oil, and will be repelled by it. This oil is very popular for making homemade flea repellent sprays for homes and pets. You can also put a few drops on your dog’s collar to deter fleas.

Lavender Oil

This oil comes from the flower spikes of lavender plants. Lavender is a popular essential oil used in a variety of pet flea control products. Sourced from the flower and plant of the Lavandula variety, this essential oil makes a good natural flea repellent. However, it is not known to kill fleas. Topically applied, it will help ease skin irritation and itchiness from flea bites. Plus, it will repel fleas, preventing future bites.

Citronella Oil

Citronella oil is derived from the leaves and stems of citronella grass (lemon grass). You have probably seen citronella oil used in a variety of a mosquito repellent products, such as candles. This essential oil is also effective in repelling fleas, as well as other insects. It makes a good, non-toxic, natural alternative to using DEET.

Cedar Wood Oil

The oil from the evergreen cedar tree is extracted from the needles, wood, and roots. This oil can be used as a natural insect repellent and insecticide. While speculative, it is believed that this essential oil kills fleas and other insects by impairing their nervous system through a pheromone interruption agent.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint is another all-natural essential oil that can repel fleas and ease skin irritation. The oil from peppermint has a menthol scent and is effective in repelling insects like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Peppermint oil also gives a cooling sensation when applied to skin, so it can help relieve itching from flea bites. The great thing about peppermint is people generally love the refreshing scent, while fleas hate it.

When your home or pets get infested with fleas, it is important to take action to remove them right away. However, most flea treatments will contain pesticides that you might not want lingering around your home. Luckily, there are some non-toxic, natural solutions as well.

Natural flea sprays can be used safely for pets and your house. Learn about these sprays including ingredients, and product reviews.

Benefits of Natural Flea Sprays

Some people are wary about using chemicals in their homes. Specifically, permethrin and pyrethrin because they are toxic to cats and fish. If you are worried about the side effects of these insecticides, using natural flea sprays is good a alternative option. Flea control products made from natural ingredients have the following benefits:

• Effective in removing fleas
• Non-toxic to pets
• Non-toxic to humans (including children)
• Hypoallergenic
• Safe to the environment
• Naturally sourced

Natural Flea Killing Ingredients

Natural flea sprays will mainly contain essential oils for their active ingredients. Essential oils are well known for their insecticidal properties. In fact, these oils are created by a variety of plants to protect themselves from insects. Common essential oils used for flea sprays include peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, cinnamon, and eucalyptus. Products with these ingredients are very effective for adult fleas and ticks. Other ingredients may include extracts from clove or orange peel.

Natural Flea Spray for Homes

Vet’s Best Home Flea Spray

When it comes to protecting your home from flea infestations, Vet’s Best natural flea spray is a good choice. This natural flea spray will kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes upon contact. This flea spray contains all natural ingredients, so it is safe around children and pets of at least 3 months of age. The main active ingredients are peppermint oil and clove extract. It contains no pyrethrins or cedar oil. This flea spray for the homes will kill flea eggs and adults, so it is very effective in cutting off fleas’ reproduction cycle.
 

Natural Defense Home Spray

Natural Defense is a well known brand name for natural pet solutions. They make an effective flea spray for homes that is safe for children and pets. The active ingredient is d-Limonene, which is extract from orange peels. This substance is a natural insecticide that will kill fleas and other insects on contact. While it is natural, it should not be applied to people or pets because limonene is a skin irritant. This spray has a nice, fresh orange smell, instead of the smell of insecticidal chemicals.
 

Natural Flea Spray for Pets

BarkLogic Flea Spray for Pets

For a topical natural flea sprays intended for the pets themselves, BarkLogic makes a popular product. It uses lemongrass oil, as well as other essential oils, for the active ingredients. These ingredients are effective and safe, killing fleas and other insect pests on contact. The lemongrass oil works as an insect repellent, and at the same time leaves the dog with a natural fresh scent. It will not leave any residue on the dog’s skin and hair. Another good thing about this flea spray is that it is biodegradable and not harmful to the environment. This spray can also be used safely on cats.

Natural Defense Dog Spray

Natural Defense’s product line contains a good naturally flea spray for dogs. Active ingredients include a blend on essential oils (peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil, thyme oil). It is safe to use around pets and your family, but it is developed specifically for dogs and puppies. It has a nice spicy scent. It will kill fleas and ticks on contact when sprayed. This spray by Natural Defense is tested and approved by veterinarians. Not only will the essential oils kill on contact, but the smells will also work as lasting repellent.
 

Cats can succumb to flea infections just as easily as dogs. In fact, cats fleas are the most common species of fleas that invade homes. This is because cats are outdoors mingling with other cats and animals in the neighborhood. In these situations, your feline pets can easily get fleas.

Flea drops for cats are an effective and fasting acting flea control method for cats. Read about when to use flea drops for cats, active ingredients, safety information, and product reviews.

Benefits Cat Flea Drops for Cats

There are a variety of flea control methods for cats, but flea drops are one of the best options. Most other methods will only kill adult fleas, and will not provide any lasting prevention. Fleas drops, on the other hand, will quickly target and kill fleas of all stages of life (eggs, larvae, pupae, adults). Plus, each flea drop treatment will give your cats lasting protection for up to 4 weeks.

While flea drops for cats are extremely effective, they do contain stronger chemicals compared to other cat treatments, such as flea combs or shampoos. Some pet owners are not comfortable with putting these insecticides on their cats.

Common Active Ingredients

• Imidacloprid – a insect neurotoxin that will kill flea adults and larvae (more effective on adults)
• Fipronil – insecticide that affects the central nervous system on adult insects
• Pyriproxyfen – a juvenile hormone that prevents larvae from pupating into adults
• Methoprene – another juvenile hormone that causes larvae to never reach adulthood

Safety

Flea drops use insecticides for their active ingredients, so it is important to always read safety labels and instructions. If you use these products properly they will be safe for your cats. Only use treatments as often as directed on labels, which is usually once a month. Concentrations of ingredients are sometimes different for different sizes of cats. Do not use flea drops on kittens under eight weeks old. Never use dog drops on cats, as they may contain ingredients that are toxic to cats (permethrin or pyrethrin).

Best Flea Drops for Cats

Bayer Advantage for Cats

Bayer Advantage topical flea drops for cats are very popular. The active ingredients include imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen. Each application of the treatment will provide one months worth of protection. The package includes enough supply for a total of six months. This product is typically applied on the neck of the cat, but will give protection for the entire body. In as little as 5 minutes, pet owners will see the effectiveness of this product with fleas and ticks surfacing out from the cat’s fur. These insects will be completely killed within 24 hours of application.

Frontline Plus for Cats

Frontline Plus for cats and kittens is another popular choice for among cat owners. This product works on adult fleas, eggs, and larvae. The active ingredients are fipronil and methoprene. Within 12 hours all the fleas on your cat’s body should be killed, breaking the flea life cycle. Plus, it will protect your cat from reinfestation for up to a month. This product from Frontline is intended for cats that are at least 8 weeks old. The package contains 3 doses, each dose lasting one month. So it is guaranteed flea protection for a 3-month period.

Flea drops are probably the best treatment for flea on dogs. These topical treatments work fast and are more effective than flea combs, shampoos, and sprays. If you want to quickly end the battle against fleas on your pets, flea drops are the way to go. In a matter of hours the fleas on your dog will die, giving relief from the bites.

There are a few different flea drops available in the market today, so here we will help you understand which is best for you and your dog.

Benefits of Flea Drops for Dogs

Flea drops are the most powerful and most effective type of flea treatment for dogs. Most flea control products for pets will only kill the adult fleas, and are not meant for lasting prevention. Flea drops on the other hand, will kill eggs, larvae, and adults. Flea drops are also powerful enough to only require one treatment a month, even through shampooing. This will end a flea infestation much faster!

Keep in mind, flea drops are effective because they use higher concentrations of insecticides. However, if you don’t want to use insecticides on your dog, you still have options. Sentry Natural Defense are flea drops that are completely natural and non-toxic.

Common Active Ingredients

• Imidacloprid – a insect neurotoxin that will kill flea adults and larvae (more effective on adults)
• Permethrin – naturally derived insect neurotoxin that kills adult fleas
• Fipronil – insecticide that affects the central nervous system on adult insects
• Pyriproxyfen – a juvenile hormone that prevents larvae from pupating into adults
• Methoprene – another juvenile hormone that causes larvae to never reach adulthood
• Essential Oils – natural insect control (Peppermint, Cinnamon, Lemon Grass, Clove)

Safety

Flea drops will often contain more active ingredients than other flea products, so it is essential that you carefully read the safety label. Depending on the size of your dog, different concentrations of ingredients will be used. It is important to only use flea drops intended for the size of your pet, otherwise the drops may be ineffective or they could harm your dog. These topical treatments should only be applied once a month. This differs from other flea control products which may be applied daily, weekly, or as needed. Never use dog drops on cats.

Best Flea Drops for Dogs

Bayer Advantix for Dogs

Bayer K9 Advantix flea & tick drops are one of the more popular brands of flea drops for dogs. This product contains imidacloprid, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen for the active ingredients. The combination of these ingredients makes it very effective in eliminating eggs, larvae, and adults of the most common parasites on dogs. These include fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes. Advantix will remain effective for 30 days, and it is waterproof. This product also works best if applied before the flea season starts. It can be used on puppies as young as seven weeks old.

Frontline Plus for Dogs

Frontline Plus for dogs also is the main competitor of Advantix, and works in a similar way. The active ingredients in Frontline Plus are fipronil and methoprene. This is a combination of neurotoxins to kill adults, and insect growth regulators hinder development of larvae. Similarly to Advantix, this medicated ointment should only be applied once a month, and remains even after baths and water immersion. This is because the active ingredients are kept in the dog’s oil glands, and are released as fur grows. One Frontline Plus package contains three applications, so your dogs will be protected for from fleas for a three-month period.

Sentry Natural Defense

If you are looking for a more natural type of flea drops for dogs, check out Sentry Natural Defense. This is an insecticide-free product and the main active ingredients are essential oils. These include peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemon grass oil, clove oil, and thyme oil. Essential oils are plant’s natural defense to insects. So they are deadly to insects, but harmless to mammals. These all-natural ingredients are safe enough even when there are children and other pets around. Sentry Natural Defense gives up to four weeks of flea control for dogs and puppies. It is veterinarian tested and approved.

Part of ending a flea infestation involves treating your dog for fleas. There are a variety of ways to kill fleas on your dogs, and using a flea spray is one of these options. Sprays are easy to use and effective. Plus, there are multiple options; you can use fast-acting insecticidal sprays, or safer all natural sprays.

This article will cover the benefits of using flea sprays for dogs, active ingredients, and three of the best sprays.

Benefits of Using Flea Sprays for Dogs

With such a large variety of flea treatments for dogs, it can hard be to decide which is best to use in your situation. Before jumping into using any kind of chemical on your pets, first try a flea comb. If this does not solve the problem, shampoos and sprays are a good next step. Flea sprays are popular because they are convenient and easy to use. Plus, you can find a range of active ingredients, depending on the spray.

If you are looking for all-natural flea spray, Barklogic may be your answer. It contains natural ingredients like lemongrass oil. This spray is gentle and doesn’t have any toxic insecticides. It is a great flea spray for dog owner’s worried about the side-effects of insecticides. It is very similar to using a flea shampoo on your dog.

If your flea problem is persistent, you might opt for a more powerful spray. Ovitrol may be a good choice in this case, as it contains insecticides and insect growth regulators. These ingredients are similar to those found in topical fleas drops. It will kill adult fleas, stop flea larvae, and prevent fleas from coming back.

Common Active Ingredients

Different brands of flea sprays will differ in their chemical composition, however many flea control products (including sprays) all use similar ingredients.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have been used for a long time for insect control. These natural ingredients work to eliminate and repel insects, including fleas. The great thing about essential oils is they are non-toxic and completely safe for use on your pets. However, over-use can cause skin irritation. The most common oils for flea control are lemon grass, citronella, eucalyptus, and cedarwood.

Neurotoxins

Insecticidal neurotoxins are often used in home flea treatments. Pyrethrin is probably the most common, as it is naturally sourced from the chrysanthemum flower. Pyrethrins work by disrupting the functioning of the insect’s nervous system, resulting in death. There are also synthetic versions called “pyrethroids” which are common among flea control products. These pyrethroids include permethrin, etofenprox, or phenotrin. These active ingredients are safe to humans and dogs. Other common neurotoxin insecticides are imidacloprid, fipronil, and amitraz.

Insect Growth Regulators

Neurotoxins will work great for killing adult fleas, but to kill the eggs and larvae, insect growth regulators are used. Two common insect growth regulators are Precor (methoprene) and Nylar (pyriproxyfen). These are juvenile hormones which prevent larvae from ever growing into adult fleas. Thus, the life cycle is cut off. These chemicals are safe for animals.

Safety

As mentioned, some flea sprays for dogs are more potent than others. It is important to always read labels for instructions and safety information. Some of these sprays may not be safe for very young dogs or puppies, and you should never use dog sprays on cats. Some sprays can used daily, while other should be used no more than twice a week (or less).

Best Flea Spray for Dogs

Barklogic Flea & Tick Spray

Barklogic’s Tick & Flea Prevention and Treatment Spray is prefect for dog owners who want a flea spray that is 100% natural and insecticide-free. With natural ingredients, such as organic enzymes and essential oils, this particular flea spray may be applied daily without having to worry about harmful side effects. Even though it uses natural ingredients, it is still effective in killing fleas on contact. Barklogic’s product line is well known to be environmentally-friendly. This is good news for the dogs, and for the rest of the family as well.

Frontline Flea Spray

Frontline is a popular name in the flea control industry, and they make a great flea spray for pets. The active ingredient in this spray is fipronil. Not only will Frontline’s flea spray kill all fleas within 24 hours, it will also continue to prevent fleas for up to a month after the initial application. This true even if your dog is bathed. Another good thing about this product is that it is safe for puppies which are at least two months old. You can also use it on cats. Many people recommend this product for dogs who are affected with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), a common skin infection among dogs.

Ovitrol Plus Flea Spray

Ovitrol Plus makes a strong flea spray that is perfect for treating pets when facing a serious, persistent infestation. It uses two active ingredients; pyrethrin and Precor. Pyrethrin will quickly eliminate the adult fleas on your dog’s fur. Then precor is an insect growth regulator, which will prevent eggs and larvae from ever pupating into adults. This spray will remain active and effective in controlling fleas for as long as two months. Ovitrol Plus Flea, Tick & Bot Spray is safe for pets that are at least 12 weeks, and may be applied on a weekly basis. You may also use this spray on your cats, however pyrethrin can sometimes be toxic to felines.

Are you looking for the best way to get rid of fleas in your house? We are here to help! Here we will break down 3 simple steps to remove fleas from your home once and for all!

There is a plethora of flea control products on the market, so it can be confusing to know which one to choose. Some products only kill adult fleas, while others focus on eggs. We will help you understand the best products to use.

The Secret to Ending a Flea Infestation

If you want end a flea infestation, you need to kill fleas at all stages of life. This is where a lot of people go wrong. Often they will use products that only kill adult fleas. This will not do much to end a flea problem, because adults only make up 5% of an infestation! You need to kill eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Otherwise these pre-adult fleas will just continue to grow, and the infestation will thrive.

Another important factor in eliminating fleas in your home is to kill fleas in your home and on your pets. Otherwise, pets could be carrying fleas on them. Then the fleas can jump off and restart an infestation in homes.

3 Steps to Get Rid of Fleas

Step 1: Vacuum Twice a Day – kills eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults (home)
Step 2: Spray Carpets with Ultracide – kills adults and prevents larvae from pupating (home)
Step 3: Use Advantage on Pets – kills eggs, larvae, and adults (pets)

Vacuum Twice a Day

The first step, and the best thing you can do to eliminate and prevent fleas is to vacuum more. The majority of the fleas in your home are going to be found in carpets, because this is where eggs are laid. So eggs, larvae, and pupae are all going to be living in your carpets and rugs. As you vacuum, you will be sucking up all of these pre-adult fleas.

An important part of vacuuming is the removal of flea cocoons (pupae). The pupal casings are resistant to insecticides, so there is not much you can do to kill them. Vacuuming takes care of them with no problem.

Make sure you are removing your vacuum bag afterwards every time, or emptying the bag-less container. Empty the debris from your vacuum into a sealed garage bag, and then through it away outside. Read more about vacuuming fleas.

Use Ultracide Spray on Carpets

Step two is a use an insecticidal spray on your carpets. Ultracide is one of the best flea sprays for homes. It contains two active ingredients; one to kill adult fleas and one to kill pre-adults. This spray will effectively and quickly put a halt to a flea infestation in your home. Plus, it will prevent re-infestation for up to seven months.

The first active ingredient, which kills adult fleas, is pyrethrin. This is an insecticide that is commonly used in a variety of home flea control products. It is a neurotoxin that affects fleas’ nerves, causing them to fire rapidly. They will quickly die. This chemical is safe and not very toxic to humans or dogs, but should be kept away from cats.

The second active ingredient is Nylar (pyriproxyfen). It is a juvenile hormone analogue, which works as an insect growth regulator. This will stop flea larvae from ever pupating into adults. Instead, the larva will emerge from their cocoon again. This completely stops the reproduction cycle, and there will be no new generation of adult fleas to continue the infestation. This spray will only work on eggs and larvae, because cocoons are resistant. It safe for mammals.

Use Advantage Topical Treatments on Pets

There are a variety of product on the market targeted towards controlling fleas on pets. However the best is probably Advantage from Bayer. It will kill eggs, larvae, and adults on your dog or cat. Plus, and this is a big plus, it will prevent fleas from coming back.

Bayer Advantage contains imidacloprid as the active ingredient. This is an insecticide that works as an insect neurotoxin. As soon as it contacts an adult flea, larva, or egg, it will kill them in under 20 minutes. It works by killing fleas with hyperactive nerve firings. It will prevent fleas from coming back to your pets for up to a full month.

A common question about fleas is “Do fleas fly?” No, fleas cannot fly. However, they are still highly mobile insects. They can easily jump onto animals, and hitchhike around. Once they get inside of homes, fleas will have no problem moving from place to place.

This article will go over interesting information about how fleas move around. These facts about flea jumps are truly fascinating!

Can Fleas Fly?

Fleas are insects that don’t have wings, and obviously as a result fleas cannot fly. Many people might think fleas fly, because they can jump truly incredible distances. While fleas are still annoying, it would be much worse if they flew. Since fleas cannot fly, you do not have to worry about them:

• Buzzing past your ears
• Biting you above your waist
• Getting into cabinetry or counter tops where food is kept
• Flying up to and laying eggs in hard to reach locations

Flea killing treatments like powders and sprays are effective because you can use them on your floors. If fleas flew, these insecticides would not work as well.

How Do Fleas Move?

As mentioned, fleas move around by jumping. They are highly specialized and well-adapted to jump mind-boggling distances. If you look at the anatomy of a flea, you will notice their large hind legs. This is a distinctive quality of fleas (and other jumping insects). Fleas use these powerful hind legs to launch themselves into the air. Check out this video for further explanation.

Incredible Flea Jumping Facts

• Fleas can jump 13 inches horizontally, which is over 200 times their body length!
• Fleas can jump 8 inches vertically, which over 150 time their body length!
• If humans could jump as high as fleas, we could jump over skyscrapers!
• When jumping, fleas accelerate over 50 times faster than space shuttles!
• Fleas can jump 30,000 times without stopping!
• Fleas can jump in opposite directions with every jump!
• Due to their strong legs, fleas can pull 160,000 times their body weight!

What are Those Small Flying Insects in Your Home?

If you have seen flying insects in your home, you now know they are not fleas. What but are they? Chances are you are dealing with fruit flies. This is a very common house pest. You can often find these tiny flies in areas where you store fruit, or near the garage. Learn more about fruit flies.

Fruit flies are not the only possibility though. There are a large variety of gnats and small flies that may have entered your home. Luckily, most of them are not as pesky as fleas.

If you have fleas in your house, flea dirt might be one of the first signs you notice. What is flea dirt though? Simply put, it is flea droppings (poop). You might notice this fecal matter on your pet’s fur, in carpets, or on bedding.

In this article we will cover what exactly flea dirt is, what it looks like, and ways to remove it. Once you detect flea dirt on your pets or in your home, you need to take action to kill the fleas.

What is Flea Dirt?

Flea dirt is the common name for flea poop. The fecal matter from fleas will be composed almost entirely out of digested blood meal. After the flea droppings dry and harden, they will be black with a crackled texture (think of blood when it dries). If you try to break apart the small chucks of flea droppings with your fingers, it will be very difficult.

Both female and male fleas will consume blood meals, and leave behind blood droppings. However, female fleas will consume more much than males. In fact, females can drink up to 15 times their body weight in blood a day. This means there will be a lot of flea dirt around. The reason females drink more is because they need blood for producing eggs. Plus, she will leave blood dropping behind for her newly hatched larvae to eat.

What Flea Dirt Looks Like

Flea dirt will appear in tiny black specks, looking somewhat like pieces of ground black pepper. As mentioned earlier, the texture will be crackled and rigid. If your pet’s fur or carpeting is light-colored, it should be fairly easy to see. However, flea dirt on dark surfaces will be almost impossible to detect.

You might be thinking, “Plain dirt is also black colored, how can I tell the difference?” There is a simple test to determine if you have actually found flea dirt. Take a piece of wet cloth, or a cotton ball, then put the dirt in question on it. If it dissolves into a red color on the cloth, it is flea blood droppings.

Some people confuse flea dirt for flea eggs. Flea eggs will be white in color, not black. Read our article on what flea eggs look like.

Where to Look for Flea Dirt

Flea dirt will be found in any place where adult fleas feed or breed. The most common locations to find flea droppings will be:

• On pet’s fur
• In carpeting and rugs
• On padded furniture
• On bedding
• On pet beds

Significance of Finding Flea Dirt

If you find flea dirt, it means you have also found fleas. There is probably a large flea infestation already taking place in your home, and it is time to take measure to end it. You may not have noticed it because the fleas were biting your pets and not you. This could be causing a lot of discomfort for your dog or cat.

To remove fleas from your home, one of the best options is to use a flea spray. To kill fleas on pets, a topical treatment will work the most effectively.

How to Remove Flea Dirt

To stop flea dirt from accumulating in your house and on your pets, you will need to kill the fleas. If you do not do this, it is just a waste of time to remove flea dirt, as it will just come back. Keep in mind, flea dirt will dissolve into blood if it gets wet. You will then end up with red stains on your carpets or pet’s fur. For this reason, it is best to use dry methods for removing the flea dirt.

Pets

For pets, put down a towel and then shake out as much flea dirt as possible by tousling the fur with your hands. Then take a flea comb, and thoroughly comb through their entire body. This will also remove any fleas on their fur.

Carpets

For your carpets, a vacuum should effectively pick up any flea dirt. If it doesn’t, it may be time to get a new vacuum. Plus, you will be sucking up any flea eggs, larvae, and cocoons found there. You should be vacuuming regularly anyway if you have a flea problem. Read more about vacuuming fleas.