Flea Control Manchester

Flea Infestations

For pet owners, the dreaded flea infestation is possibly the most feared insectile pest problem that they can face. Hard to spot until already established, hard to eradicate due to their lifecycle, annoying and irritating to be affected by, and potentially very harmful, the stigma of a flea problem is as much a concern as the physical reality.

One of the main problems with fleas is that while your property may be entirely clear, anytime your pet goes outside it runs the risk of coming into contact with fleas and bringing them back into your property. Contamination is therefore difficult to prevent outside of treatments that can be applied directly to your pets, and it is critical that you are able to spot the signs of a problem before it has had too long to become established.

What to look for:

There are 4 main species of flea that you will encounter in the UK, the most common being the Cat Flea who is responsible for the majority of bites on humans. Bird fleas are the next most common, followed by Human fleas and finally Dog Fleas. All 4 types are broadly similar in appearance, habit and life-cycle and can be spotted and dealt with in the same ways.
Fleas are typically 2mm in size and are wingless – however, they do have over-developed muscular legs which they use to hop from location to location in search of food. They are usually dark reddish-brown in colour and will be noticeably larger and darker when they have fed. They will be active for only 4 months during the summer in which their entire lifecycle will occur.

All fleas are parasites, and feed on warm blood taken directly from animals through their bites. The larval stage of the flea will often feed on skin, feather and the blood-rich faeces of adult fleas. Bite marks from adult fleas cause intense irritation around a small area and will be bright red. Some people can experience severe allergic reactions to bites and everyone will react differently to bites whether they are allergic or not.

Eggs are laid in areas that can hard to reach such as cracks in walls or floors, or close to food sources such as pet or human bedding, or in furniture. The eggs are hard to spot due to their size and fleas will breed rapidly once they are safe and close to food.

Signs of infestation:

There are some common signs of a flea problem that you can look out for. If you notice any of these signs, contact us here at Protec Pest Control as soon as possible;

• Pets scratching more than usual.
• Bites on humans – these are far easier to spot than on pets as we are not as hairy.
• Flea ‘dirt’ – this is the faeces left by adult fleas after feeding and lots a lot like black pepper or
  black powder. This will often be found on bedding or floors close to where pets or people
  will rest.
• Adult fleas – far easier to spot than eggs or larvae, fleas can be seen crawling through hair or hopping swiftly.
• They will often appear close to pets ears and noses where the skin is thinner and large volumes of blood vessels are located.

Flea Infestation risks:

Other than the discomfort and stigma attached to fleas and their irritating bites, it is important to note that fleas can transmit diseases from both their feeding and from their movement from contaminated areas. Blood-borne diseases are easily transferred by fleas and can represent a significant health risk.

Flea Treatment & Control:

It’s important to call Protec Pest Control as soon as possible once you discover a flea problem in your property. Remember that you will normally only spot any adult fleas, by which point it is very likely that eggs have already been laid and will hatch over the coming days and weeks. Leaving the problem will only result in population numbers growing out of control, and increasing the risk to both you and your pets and family.

On arrival at your property, our technician will carry out a thorough inspection to locate any and all areas of flea activity before deciding on the best course of action and treatment. The most common forms of treatment will involve vacuuming with an industrial strength vacuum in order to collect the greatest number of eggs, larvae and adult fleas from surfaces. Insecticides and growth-retarders can also be employed to fully eradicate any population.

We can also provide advice and guidance on preventing further flea problems as well as providing treatments that can be used by you to clean bedding and fabrics, as well as potentially your pets themselves. We are also more than happy to arrange follow-up visits to check on the efficacy of treatments as well as to apply a second treatment if necessary.

Protec Pest Control are fully accredited by the British Pest Control Association and approved by Safecontractor and Trading Standards. Our treatments conform to the highest regulatory and safety standards and our technicians can visit at a time suitable for you.

You can contact us via our website www.protecpestcontrol.co.uk or via telephone on 0161 448 1782 to arrange a visit and treatment as soon as possible. We cover the entire Manchester and Stockport areas and will be more than happy to provide you with fast, efficient and cost-effective treatments and advice.