The most common breeding grounds for fleas inside of homes is in carpeting. This provides them with a perfect haven to thrive in. It has the ideal environments and conditions for eggs, larvae, and cocoons to grow into adult fleas. There is plenty of food around, and the flea offspring are somewhat camouflaged and hard to detect.
Why Fleas Like Carpets
After the female flea gets a blood meal, she will then seek out a place to lay her eggs. In homes, carpeting and rugs make great spots for this. Carpet is usually undisturbed, and it provides a good shelter for flea eggs, larvae, and cocoons. Unless you look closely you will probably not even see these things in your carpet.
There is also plenty of food in carpets for flea larvae when they hatch. The larvae will typically feed on the organic matter, debris, and food crumbs that gets trapped in carpeting. The female flea will also provide an additional source of food for her babies. She will deposit some blood droppings around the eggs to give them food immediately when they hatch. The larvae will continue to live in the carpet until they pupate into adults, and then seek out blood meals.
Vacuuming Fleas Out of Carpet
The best way to remove and prevent fleas in your carpet is to vacuum regularly. The invention of the vacuum has really hurt the human flea, and made it hard for them to survive in homes. This may seem a really simple flea control method, but it is very effective.
The vacuum cleaner will suck up any flea eggs, larvae, or pupae found in the carpet. This will completely disrupt the flea’s reproduction cycle. Eventually the adults will die off, and then there will be no new generation to lay eggs and continue the infestation.
Another benefit of vacuuming is it will also clean up any debris and food crumbs that may fall on the floor. This will remove a major source of food for the flea larvae.
Furthermore, fleas do not like to lay eggs in areas which are disrupted regularly. If you vacuum frequently and still have a flea problem, you may need to get a better vacuum.
Flea Powder for Carpets
Another method to kill the fleas that are living in your carpet is to use a flea killing powder. Fleabusters Rx works well, and is a very popular carpet treatment for fleas. The powder is statically charged, so it will attach itself to fleas or anything else in carpet.
The active ingredient is boric acid. Boric acid is used in a variety of insecticides, commonly ant and roach killers. It is much safer for humans and pets than other insecticides. The boric acid works by poisoning the insect’s stomach and affecting metabolism, and also can dehydrate the insect when it comes in contact with their exoskeleton.
It is easy to use, you just need to give your carpet a light dusting. Then you can vacuum it up once it has done its job.
Diatomaceous Earth (Natural Solution)
Diatomaceous earth is also a powder that you can apply to your carpets, and it will kill fleas. This is a non-toxic and natural substance though. You just need to be careful not to breathe it in, because it is abrasive. It is just ground up sedimentary rocks composed of diatoms, hard shelled algae. The powder is very light and porous.
Diatomaceous earth works by contacting the insect’s exoskeleton, and then absorbing the lipids on their body. The result is that the insect rapidly loses moisture and dehydrates.
Using this is similar to Fleabusters, you simply dust your carpet, and then vacuum it up when done.
Salt
Finally, salt is another natural substance you can dust your carpets with. Salt will dehydrate all flea larvae, eggs, and cocoons it contact. Think about how a slug reacts when you pour salt on it. Obviously salt is completely safe and non-toxic for you and your pets.
Other Common Places For Flea Larvae and Eggs
Bedding – Sheets, bedding, blankets, and throws are often good locations for fleas to lay eggs. This is especially true is these items just sit there without getting much use. It can accumulate debris that the flea larvae can feed on. Fixing this problem is extremely easy. Just wash your sheets and bedding regularly. You should be doing this anyway.
Furniture – Check your furniture, especially if it is made of cloth, for flea eggs and larvae. Also, check underneath sofas and couches for fleas. Fleas like undisturbed locations, so they could be breeding under your furnishings.
Pet Areas – Pet beds and kennels are another location you should check and treat. Fleas like to bite pets for the same reason they bite humans, they need the blood for reproduction. If fleas are hanging out around your pets, then they might be laying eggs in common places where your pets spend time. Make sure to be checking pets for fleas and cleaning pet beds regularly.
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