Fleas and Ticks
Cat Flea – Centocephalides felis
Appearance
Cat fleas are reddish-brown in color, and are about 1/6 inch in length or a little smaller than a sunflower seed. In the larval stage they are only 1/16 inch long worm-like and white.
Behavior
Fleas are ectoparasites and feed on the blood of birds, mammals, and reptiles. They have a relatively short life cycle and can rapidly reproduce. Once they have attached to a host they will begin feeding. After a female is done feeding she will lay several hundred eggs within three weeks. 30 female fleas on a dog can produce up to 600 eggs per day and over 4200 eggs in a week. Eggs do not stick to fur and so are easily shaken off when a pet moves or shakes. The eggs fall on the floor where they will hatch in a week or so. After hatching the larvae grow eating mostly the fecal matter from the adults. They are so tiny they will often be in carpets and beddings where pests rest or eat. The larvae are mobile and will gravitate towards cracks and edges of objects where they will spin a silk cocoon in which to pupate. They then emerge from the cocoon as pupae, and the pupae gradually grow to adult.
Habitat
Fleas will attach and feed on any host with which it comes in contact. The eggs, larvae, and pupae are generally found where the pet sleeps, rests, and eats. Pets will generally acquire fleas while in the yard or outside of the home and then bring the fleas into the home.
Control Advice
Once in the home fleas can be extremely difficult to eliminate. A onetime fumigation does not do the trick because the fleas in lower developmental stages are unaffected by the product. It is best to contact a professional, such as Precise, to treat the home with a residual product and an insect growth regulator. There are certain steps you can take to prevent and reduce infestation. Vacuum often, vacuuming helps to take up eggs and promote development. Remove any items where pests rest, sleep, or eat. Have the pet treated for fleas by a veterinarian. This will greatly reduce the chance of a second infestation.
Ticks – Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma americanum
Appearance
There are several types of species of ticks and they range from about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch in length. Depending on the species they can be a variety of colors. American Dog ticks are a dark-reddish brown. Deer ticks are dark brown in the body with darker legs. Brown Dog ticks are dark-reddish brown. Lone Star ticks are grayish-brown with a white dot that sometimes looks like a star.
Behavior
Ticks are ectoparasites and feed on the blood of their hosts. Ticks will feed on mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, but most often mammals are the hosts. Ticks detect heat and carbon dioxide and go toward the source. Once attached to a host they will climb until they reach the highest point or restrictive clothing. The tick then painlessly slips its teeth into the host’s skin and begins feeding. Once feeding begins ticks release saliva that literally glues the tick in place so it cannot be removed easily. Once feeding is finished, which can be up to a week, the engorged tick drops off the host, lays eggs, and dies. Depending on the species a single female tick can lay up to 6500 eggs. Ticks are often associated with disease, and rightfully so. Ticks are carriers of two major diseases Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks of the genus Ixodes (Deer Ticks or black legged tick) are a known carrier and transmitter of Lyme disease, but there could be more. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is primarily transmitted by the American dog tick, but the lone star tick can also transmit the disease.
Habitat
Ticks will most often nest in heavily wooded or highly vegetated areas. Ticks can live years without feeding. Ticks will patiently wait in trees and bushes for a host to pass. Some species thrive on moisture while for others it is not as necessary.
Control Advice
Ticks are extremely difficult to control even for a professional company. Repeated treatments by a professional, such as Precise, are often necessary to effectively control ticks. There are several things you can do to help prevent further infestation. Regularly check pets for ticks after they have spent time outdoors. Try to limit the amount of vegetation around the home. If you are venturing into a heavily wooded or vegetated area make sure to wear long pants and sleeves, wear a hat, tuck long hair into shirt, and wear tick repellent. To remove a tick do not try and burn the tick or rapidly pull it out, this can cause the tick to burrow deeper or release its fluids into the body. Dab the tick with alcohol and with a pair of tweezers grasp the tick at skin level and steadily pull straight out.
