Fleas - Order Siphonaptera
|
 |
|
There are probably about 60 species of flea in Great Britain. All adult
fleas are external parasites to warm blooded mammals and birds. All adult
fleas are wingless, and have powerful hind legs which are capable of projecting
them vertically a considerable distance.
|
| All adult are blood-sucking, but the larvae are not. The larvae
live on detritus and especially on the blood-rich droppings of the adult.
They spin loose silk cocoons in which to pupate. |
| Adults usually emerge from the pupa but remain in the cocoon until stimulated by the vibration of a potential host.
This is why walking into a long-vacated property may result in a flea infestation.
|
| The most common are:
Human Flea (Pulex irritans) & Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
|
|
Other common fleas are Dog Flea (ctenocephalides canis), Oriental Rat Flea or
Tropical Rat Flea (Xenopylla cheopis), Bird Fleas(Ceratophyllus spp.) and Rabbit Flea(Spilopsyllus cuniculi) |
|
|
Treatment |
| Usually an infestation is noticed after a property has been unoccupied. Commonly
when you move into new accommodation that has been empty for a while. |
| We normally treat with a powder which is not poisonous to humans and pets. You should clean before we come
in so you can leave the dust down for at least a week before you clean again. |
| Page last modified Tuesday August 21 2007 |
