Summertime is in full swing and so are the insects that thrive on the blood of both humans and pets. Step outdoors for a few minutes and you are likely to be bitten by a mosquito, horse fly, no see um, tick, or flea. New Jersey pest control professionals report that fleas are a particularly formidable pest to eradicate from your home and yard.
Fleas are hardy insects that can live in your furniture, beds, carpeting, and yard. One female flea is capable of laying up to 10,000 eggs during her lifespan. Fleas will consume 15 times their weight in blood each day, but can abstain from eating for months if necessary. Flea bites are painful and itchy for both humans and pets. Fleas are known to transmit parasites, such as tapeworms, and dangerous diseases such as the bubonic plague.
SF Gate reported on July 7, 2011 that Banfield Pet Hospital has conducted a nationwide survey of pet owners. The results revealed that three out of four pet owners are aware of the dangers that flea infestations pose, and 16% of pet owners are more concerned about bed bugs than then they are about fleas. Additionally, “according to Banfield’s Applied Research & Knowledge (BARK) team, the number of flea infestations it has treated has increased 16 percent in dogs and 12 percent in cats since 2006. BARK also found that the prevalence of flea-related issues increases during the spring and summer.” You may read the article here.
Fleas are a nuisance to pets and humans alike. You can keep Fido, Fluffy, and your family safe from flea bites and an infestation by having a qualified NJ pest control professional provide a barrier treatment of your home to keep fleas away. Allison Pest Control provides expert pest control services in Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean Counties.