Are Fleas Seasonal? How To Prepare Yourself For The Upcoming Holidays
Ever wonder how it would be to live life wondering what microorganisms surround you? If you did, you may end up considering how to live in a vacuum, safe from all harmful organisms- because they exist in the millions. But the good thing is the human immune system is robust. And also, there are several ways to keep yourself healthy and strong. One way is by ensuring that you avoid the carriers of these microorganisms- like fleas.
Fleas are not microscopic, but they are small and dangerous. They can be a real nuisance to you and your pets. So, in this post, you will find out what you should do about these pests as you prepare for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays.
Fleas in Winter
One of the first things to be clear about is flea behavior in the fast-approaching season. As the temps drop gradually, the beauty of autumn will soon be covered in a blanket of snow. What does this seasonal change mean for you or your pets as far as fleas are concerned?
Do Fleas Survive the Winter?
The short answer is yes, many fleas do survive in the winter. Fleas need to stay warm to survive, so naturally they will seek shelter away from the cold outdoors. Can you guess where they’re going to go? Your home! Not only does your home provide a warm place to stay, but chances are you have either a pet or other people living there with you that can act as hosts for fleas. If fleas cannot make their way indoors to stay warm, they can find shelter in other places around your home where animals may hide such as in a crawlspace or under bushes and shrubs.
A common way to tell if your home has fleas is if you see them jumping around or on your pets. They are small, so they might look like fast little dots moving around close to the skin. Another clear sign of a flea infestation is reddened skin and lots of scratching and itching caused by their bites. Read more at Pest World For Kids
The Life of A Flea
It’s clear, fleas will not take a beating from the cold weather without resistance. They will find a way to survive and enjoy Christmas with your family- right inside your warm home. But it is important that you understand the various stages of development of a flea from the egg stage to adulthood. This will shed light on what temps affect them and at what stages they do.
Understanding the Flea Life Cycle
To really understand why even cold temperatures often are not enough to kill fleas, it helps to understand the four stages of the flea life cycle. Adult fleas are the least resistant to cold temperatures. But what are the other three stages of the flea life cycle and can cold weather kill fleas in these stages of life as well?
The flea has four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Each life stage has different vulnerabilities if you are trying to rid your home and your pet of fleas. Adult fleas must have a blood meal before they can mate and lay eggs. But within two days of a blood meal, the female adult flea will lay 20 to 40 eggs every single day for several days in a row! Read more at The Labrador Site
Watch Out For the Adult Fleas
Fleas in their mature stages are a threat to your health. Since they need a blood meal for them to ensure they multiply, they will come for you or your pet. So, as you warm your home, bear in mind that you’re also providing a good environment for fleas.
Fleas don’t do very well when it comes to cold temperatures. In most cases, they cannot even emerge from their cocoons in the winter months. The fleas in the immature stages are even more vulnerable to the cold season. Fleas die at freezing temperature. When the temperature falls to 55.4 F (13 C) they don’t survive, all the flea eggs or their larvae die at this level. Once the temperature goes even below and gets to freezing temperatures the adult flea will start dying. They cannot survive on their host in compromising conditions. So if fleas are exposed to temperatures such as 30.2 F (-1 C) they die within weeks or even less than weeks. Warm weather can result in doubling their lifespan whereas winter weather can result in killing them. However, some fleas in winter can survive the season if their host is warm-bodied. If you are giving your pet too many layers to protect them from the weather, you are protecting those adults fleas as well, so they might just survive winter if such things are done. If they are at least exposed for five days fleas will die and they won’t be able to lay any eggs in that time either. Read more at Kidadl
With all the info above, you know you can’t ignore the presence of fleas even when the days grow colder.
A proactive approach to flea control is always advisable. Making a point of checking out your pets for fleas is helpful in catching them before they cause great trouble. However, you can also consider working with the experts to keep your yard free of fleas. Backyard Bug Patrol is your go-to company for eco-friendly indoor pest control. Call us today for inquiries on the services we provide.