It’s Flea Control Time Again
It’s heading into that time of the year again when fleas become a nuisance to you and your family and just as important a nuisance to your pets.
If you have a dog or a cat you are risk of getting fleas in your home this summer.
Understanding how the flea life cycle works will help to keep your property free of fleas. Many people do not realise that most of the life cycle of the flea occurs off the pet. If you find around 5 fleas on your cat or dog there may be 95 fleas on your carpet.
Now this sounds absolutely crazy that there would be that many fleas on your carpet but it’s true. You can learn more about the flea life-cycle later in in this post.
A recent flea control problem solved!
Recently we had a technician attend a property in Hamilton where a family were at their wits end trying to understand why they had such an issue with fleas inside and outside their home.
Every summer they would have the same issues with fleas and could never completely get rid of the fleas.
The family had been using a flea treatment from their vet but had not been getting the entire property treated and to break the breeding cycle of the fleas.
To help combat the issues at this property the technician had a discussion with the customer and let them know that the best way to control fleas is through a 2 step approach of habitat modification and chemical control.
The treatment to pets alone was not enough to keep the fleas away from the property.

Flea free doghouse
The first step is Habitat Modification.
That involved altering the environment to make conditions less conducive for flea survival. This basically means the removal of leaf litter and keep you lawns cut short. You should also wash your pets bedding on a regular basis and vacuum your carpets regularly.
The second step is a chemical treatment to the areas both internally and externally of the property to the areas where the fleas are breeding.
Our technicians use a fine mist treatment to the entire floor surface inside the property and also a spray is done to all external areas also.
Why does this flea control method work?

Happy flea free dog ready to play
Now that the chemical spray is done all the adult fleas will have died. With all the adults dead that does not mean that your property is flea free.
Over the next 14-21 days you will see the odd flea as they hatch out of their cocoons. The flea will then move though the carpet and come in contact with the chemical that was applied and then die.
To help speed up the hatching out of the cocoons it is recommend that you stomp around on the floor for a few days after the treatment as the vibrations will help this process.
After the family in Hamilton followed our process and modified the environment and had Amalgamated Pest Control complete the chemical treatment they have all but eradicated fleas from their property.
Fleas can be controlled – Just ask Amalgamated Pest Control
Controlling fleas is a team effort and if followed correctly you can ensure that your property no longer has flea issues and you will have happier pets.
If you need help controlling fleas on you property call the professionals.
Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on
4488 4019
More about Flea Control and the Flea Life-Cycle
The life cycle of a flea is in four stages and the flea will undergo a complete metamorphosis through the stages.
It goes from Egg to Larva to Pupa and then finally to Adult.
The entire cycle can happen in as quickly as 18 days or could also take as long as a year depending on the season.
If you find 5 fleas on your pet there could possibly be 95 on your carpet this is because the eggs are laid on the host animal and they usually drop off in areas where the pet frequents like carpeted areas in the house or in animal bedding.
Those eggs will then hatch in your carpet within 2 days or longer depending on temperature and humidity.
Fleas prefer the warmth and that is why you see such an increase in the summer months as the eggs are hatching quicker and the flea life cycle happens quicker.