Let's talk about the cycles of the flea. There are three different
types of fleas, the Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides),
The Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides) and The Human Flea (Pulex
irritans). The Cat Flea is the one we are most interested in as the other two
are very rare. Cat Fleas not only like cats, dogs, and humans but they also
like many other species such as rats, chickens, etc.
The Life
Cycle of the Cat Flea
Adult fleas lay eggs outside in the grass or any warm safe place
(usually near a warm blooded host). The eggs develop into legless larva
which feeds on tiny amounts of organic matter for up to one
month. Usually the eggs are laid on the hosts which then drop to the
ground. If inside they fall on the carpet, etc. The larvae do not bite but live off
dried blood defecated by the adult fleas.Outdoors the larva will lie in a shady
moist spot. The larva then becomes a pupae by spinning a cocoon and emerge in about
a week as a hungry adult.
The cycle for reproduction is 30 to 60 days and is triggered by the presence of
the host's warmth and the carbon dioxide given off by the host's respiration.
The Larvae can live up to 6 months and the pupae can live to a year until the conditions
are right for emergence.
What this means is that if you have just moved into a new apartment or home which
previously had a dog or cat as a tenant is that your presence, or your cat's or dog's
could trigger off their emergence! Many people have allergic reactions to flea bites while
others never notice it. Fleas usually do not bite humans unless there are no other mammals
around.
Boric Acid can kill you so be very careful
in it's use.
Control Methods
Your treatment should be spread out over a 60 day period. This means
that you should do regular Flea treatments every month if you are in
areas prone to having fleas. I have two cats and one dog. I know
fleas. The cats clean themselves and generally don't like to be told
what to do or to have anything done to them, but they can be helped as
well as the dogs. Fleas and dogs, fleas and cats, they go together. It's
unnatural for there never to be fleas again. WE can't
totally rid ourselves of them any more then we can totally rid ourselves
of the ants. The answer here is to control and reduce them. The formulas given here
along with the hints are to help you keep fleas out of the house and off your animals.
Follow these hints and you will succeed.
Many flea collars on the market contain Sevin which attacks the nervous system of the
insect (as well as your pet's nervous system and ours as well). I have seen flea collars
which contain DDT! The companies are getting smart and are using Pyrethrum but are
screwing up when they add Piperonyl butoxide to boost it up. This product has been
associated with liver disorders. You should avoid using this product. Especially avoid
using around children or seniors or those with health problems Insist on using only pure
pyrethrum flowers (the whole plant). Read the ingredients.
Let's talk about the cycles of the flea. There are three different
types of fleas, the Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides),
The Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides) and The Human Flea (Pulex
irritans). The Cat Flea is the one we are most interested in as the other two
are very rare. Cat Fleas not only like cats, dogs, and humans but they also
like many other species such as rats, chickens, etc.
