Pest Guide: What to Know About Fleas

Common Sources of Fleas

Fleas thrive in the moist, muggy climate around Washington, D.C. Most fleas are cat fleas or Ctenocephalides felis, but they can find a home on many other animals, including dogs and humans.

If you’re facing a flea infestation, the bugs could have come into your home from several different sources.

  • Pets: Dogs, cats, and other furry friends can pick up fleas that may be living outdoors. They may have interacted with other animals carrying fleas, such as at a dog park or playing with another animal. Cats often pick up fleas by touching wild animals.
  • Infested carpets and clothes: Fleas may enter your home through items infested with fleas, such as clothing or carpets. Fleas can hitch a ride on these items and establish themselves in your home.
  • The soil around your home: Fleas can find a home in the soil around your home. They like to live under bushes and in the cracks between sidewalk slabs.
Schedule A Treatment Service

Common Sources of Food for Fleas

Flea

Fleas can live in your home without necessarily living on animals. They are omnivores and can eat a wide range of foods, including from waste around your home. Identifying their food sources can help you better prevent and mitigate an infestation.

Fleas like to feed from the following:

  • Blood: Fleas prefer to eat blood when possible. They love to eat fresh blood from animals and even humans but can also eat dried blood.
  • Fecal matter: Fleas can eat fecal matter, especially from cats, which often contains some blood residues.
  • Plant matter: Living and dead plant matter forms a feast for fleas, making it important to sweep away any debris in your home.
  • Garbage: Old food can feed fleas if left around your home. Sweeping your home for old food can help to deprive fleas of sustenance.
SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION

Common Questions About Fleas

Fleas can spread diseases and parasites to humans and animals. They can transmit diseases between species across the animal kingdom. Even if fleas don’t carry any other major diseases, they leave droppings on the skin of infected humans and animals.

Though fleas are small and physically fragile, they can be hardy creatures. While they prefer warmer temperatures, fleas can survive up to 20 days of near-freezing temperatures. Don’t count on winter to kill off your fleas because they can survive it.

Fleas can establish themselves in your home and will continue to breed if they have access to food sources. While you may be able to remove all of the fleas from your body, it will be challenging to find them all in your home. That makes it best to work with an exterminator to remove fleas from your home.

Tips for Preventing Fleas

  • Make sure pets' flea and tick protection is maintained.
  • Regularly brush pets to identify fleas issues before they become a major infestation.
  • Wash pet bedding frequently.
  • Regular pest protection can help protect your home.
  • Repair any holes or gaps around the exterior and interior of your home.
  • Mow the lawn and trim trees around the house.
  • Keep foundation, mortar, and weather-protective measures up to date and repaired.

How My Pest Pros Helps Eliminate Fleas

We know what it takes when it comes to flea control, prevention, and protection in Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland from more than a decade of experience.

Many products can help reduce flea problems, but not the source of the problem. Our trained professionals have the experience and expertise to allow them to form an effective treatment plan. Our professional team not only eradicates current problems but also provides preventative care. With our protection plan, these annoying and tiny household invaders will be eradicated both now and in the future with regular treatment visits. These visits are effective at treating and preventing fleas infestations.

For ultimate protection, our professionals will work with you to find a customized solution for your flea problem, today and tomorrow.

Contact Us Today

What Our Customers are Saying

SEE MORE REVIEWS

Dedicated to our Customers

If you have a pest-control question, we answer and respond around the clock. We don’t rush treatments; we get them right! We treat our customers like family; because to us, you are. So whenever you have a pest problem, you can rely on the team at My Pest Pros to take care of it.

Contact Us

For all of your pest control needs, My Pest Pros is there. Be sure to give us a call today for a free quote!

866-415-7577







    * This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Our Satisfaction Guarantee

    Our promise to you is simple: You will be 100% satisfied with our pest control programs. Guaranteed.*

    866-415-7577

    *With Our Unlimited Plans.