When you are
facing a flea problem in your home, it is essential that you understand the
various life stages of a flea so that you can effectively treat each stage of a
fleas’ life so that the life cycle is halted and the fleas are effectively
eliminated. Adult fleas are able to lay eggs approximately 36-48 hours after
their first feeding and therefore flea eggs are commonly found in carpets,
furniture and bedding in areas where the pet spends a lot of time. Flea eggs
are smooth and able to slide out of the fur of your pet, landing within the
fibers of your carpet where they will then hatch into larvae. The larvae then
go through life cycles which transcend into a cocooned pupa which will emerge as
an adult flea typically within two weeks’ time.
For this reason, it is crucial that you
apply products which are effective at treating the eggs within the carpet as
well as the adult fleas. In order to halt the life cycle of fleas and prevent
the eggs from hatching you will need to use a product which contains an insect
growth regulator. An insect growth regulator is able to prevent the hatching of
flea eggs as well as prevent immature fleas from growing into adults. Common
insect growth regulators which are commonly used to kill flea eggs in carpet
are pyriproxyfen and Methoprene. These products are also effective at
eliminating and controlling fleas within furniture as well and can safely be
used on bedding, furniture and other areas where fleas are found.
When treating your carpet for flea eggs
and larvae it is important to recognize that the products which will eliminate
flea eggs and larvae typically are not able to kill off live adult fleas and
therefore another product which contains a pesticide is typically needed to
kill the adults and prevent further eggs from being laid. Rugs, clothing,
blankets and other materials which are able to be washed in a washing machine
can be effectively treated for the removal of both live fleas and flea eggs by
simply washing in a washing machine in hot water on a heavy cycle setting. For
carpets, furniture and upholstery growth inhibitors are the best way to prevent
the eggs from hatching and maturing.
These insect growth regulators are a great
way to effectively eliminate pests such as fleas which are commonly resistant
to many forms of pesticides. By preventing the pests from reaching a full life
cycle, they are not able to grow into adults and reproduce which will stop the
cycle of new fleas within your home. These products are also commonly referred
to as IGR’s and are an entirely different way of combating a flea infestation
in comparison to traditional pesticide treatments. These products are known to
effectively treat flea eggs found within carpet while also being safe to
people, children and pets because they are typically hormonal based and only
interfere with the growth rate and maturity of the targeted pest.
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