Fleas are small (1/16” – 1/8”), reddish-brown parasitic insects primarily feeding on the blood of mammals, the Cat Flea is the most common species in the North America. The adult flea detects a host animal by sensing body heat, movement and carbon dioxide. Fleas are wingless and do not fly, they move by jumping and attaching themselves to host animals including cats, dogs, and common wildlife surrounding your home. As an additional means of transportation, fleas can attach themselves to socks and pant legs of humans.
Once a host is established, female fleas will lay eggs directly on the animal, eventually falling off and potentially landing on carpets, blankets, furniture or pet bedding. The life cycle of a flea (egg, larva, pupa, adult) ranges from several weeks to a few months depending on environmental conditions. Adult female fleas begin laying eggs within 48 hours of their first blood meal and continue for their entire life. Female fleas can lay up to 1000 eggs in their lifetime.
Flea borne illness includes bubonic plague, murine typhus through infected rats, bartonellosis (cat scratch disease), dermatitis and the transfer of tapeworm.
Most occasional invaders found in and around your home are nuisance pests and enter structures due to weather conditions. Pest such as Wood Roaches, Sow/Pill Bugs, Centipedes, Millipedes, Ground Beetles, Silverfish, Crickets and Earwigs are common pests found on Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts.
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