Fleas
Fleas are tiny, wingless pests commonly found on pets, in homes, and businesses throughout Tennessee. These blood-feeding insects can quickly become a serious nuisance, causing discomfort for both animals and humans. Fleas are notorious for their ability to jump long distances and reproduce rapidly, making infestations challenging to control without professional intervention.
Why they’re a problem
- Biting and irritation: Flea bites cause itchy, red bumps on the skin, leading to discomfort and potential allergic reactions in both pets and humans.
- Disease transmission: Fleas can transmit several diseases and parasites, including tapeworms and murine typhus, posing health risks.
- Rapid reproduction: Fleas lay hundreds of eggs that fall off hosts into carpets, bedding, and cracks, where they develop into larvae and pupae before emerging as adults. This lifecycle allows populations to grow quickly.
- Difficult to detect: Fleas are small and fast-moving, often going unnoticed until infestations become severe.
- Pet distress: Infested pets may suffer from excessive scratching, hair loss, and secondary skin infections.
Signs you may have fleas
- Frequent pet scratching or biting: Pets showing signs of discomfort, such as constant scratching, licking, or biting at their fur, may have fleas.
- Visible fleas: Small, dark-colored jumping insects can sometimes be seen moving quickly through pet fur or around living areas.
- Flea dirt: Flea feces, known as flea dirt, looks like tiny black specks on pet bedding, carpets, or fur. When moistened, flea dirt turns reddish-brown due to digested blood.
- Bite marks on humans: Red, itchy bumps often appear around ankles, legs, or other exposed skin areas.
- Pet hair loss: Heavy flea infestations can lead to patchy fur loss or irritated skin.
- Flea eggs or larvae: Eggs are tiny white specks in pet bedding or carpeting, while larvae are small, worm-like creatures that feed on organic debris.
Professional flea control involves treating pets, indoor living spaces, and outdoor areas to break the flea lifecycle and prevent reinfestation.
Contact Professional Pest Management to keep fleas under control and protect your home or business — call (931) 680-7249 today.
