Whether there are fleas in the apartment. How to get rid of fleas in the apartment. Mechanical ways to eliminate fleas: floor and carpet treatment

It is worth noting that fleas do not live on the body permanently, and their larvae develop outside the warm-blooded organism, mainly in heaps of organic debris. The basis of nutrition of adult fleas is the blood of warm-blooded organisms. The human flea prefers a human as a host, but if one is not nearby, it can also feed on the blood of other animals.

Fleas spend most of their lives in a secluded area close to their prey hosts, where they breed and hatch larvae. A hungry flea finds the nearest organism whose blood can be used as food, pierces the skin and feeds from the blood vessel for about two hours. After the flea is fed, it leaves the body of its victim.

The average lifespan of an adult flea is several months. During this time, she can lay up to 500 eggs.

Causes of fleas in people

Let's highlight the main ways of infection with fleas:

1. From basements;
2. On clothes, shoes;
3. From attics;
4. From other warm-blooded organisms (humans, animals).

Fleas in humans symptoms of appearance

The danger of fleas

Flea Control Methods

There are about 2000 species of fleas in the world. Each species is adapted to its carrier, that is, the host, whose blood they will feed on and multiply on his own body.

Most often in St. Petersburg the following types of fleas are found:

• human;
• feline;
• rat;
• canine.

But that doesn't mean that cat flea will not bite a person, but on the contrary, will gladly drink human blood.

Where do fleas come from in the apartment and how to get rid of them?

The main ways of distribution of fleas:

• Contacts of pets on the street with homeless animals. Contact with other pets that are already infested with fleas. Most fleas living in big cities do not care who will be the source of food - a cat or a dog, so they are easily transmitted from dogs to cats and vice versa.
• Backyard lawns in summer. In the warm season, fleas actively breed and lay eggs, which often, together with wool or in contact with grass or shrubs, fall into the grass, where they are picked up by uninfected animals - they bring them home on their paws or wool.
• Cellars of houses. Warm and damp basements inhabited by rats, mice, stray cats, homeless people, and take off basement fleas. If you do not pay due attention to cleanliness in the house, then fleas will successfully spread to the entrance, and then on their own, in animal hair, on people's clothes, they will get into apartments.

With the onset of a harsh time - a drop in temperature or lack of food, they are able to hibernate for several months. When conditions return to normal, the fleas become active and begin to voraciously drink blood from their prey.

Where do fleas hide in the apartment?

Many mistakenly believe that fleas settle on their prey, for example, on a cat or dog, this is not so. Fleas do not lead a flocking lifestyle and do not form nests, but they, like free hunters, attack the victim to quench their thirst for blood, after which they hide in secluded places.

If cats or dogs live in the apartment, then right in their thick wool after the next feeding they lay their eggs. Sticky flea eggs at first securely stick to the wool, but then the mucus dries up and the eggs fall on the floor in the apartment, and where this will happen is not predictable.

The main places where you should look for fleas in an infected apartment:

• floor and all adjacent surfaces at a height of up to one and a half meters;
• behind skirting boards, in cracks and crevices, behind wallpaper extending from below;
• bedding, carpets and other favorite resting places for pets;
• in cases when there were a lot of fleas in the apartment- beds, sofas and bedding.

Unsanitary conditions and uncleanliness of the inhabitants of the apartment only exacerbate the problem and give fleas every chance of successful survival and reproduction in the room with the capture of new territories - neighbors.

Signs of fleas in the apartment

To be sure determine the appearance of fleas in the apartment and not confuse them, for example, with bed bugs, you should check the apartment for the most obvious signs.

1. Scabies and unusual behavior of a pet - concern, irritability of a cat or dog.
2. There were inflammations on the skin, similar to allergies or insect bites, especially if it was on the legs.
3. We noticed small black dots on the floor or furniture that move in sharp jumps.

If at least one of the above signs is clearly expressed, then the next step is to determine the extent of infection of the apartment. This will help a thorough examination of the animal and its bedding, combing the wool on a white sheet. White sheets of paper on the floor.

If a large population of fleas is found in the apartment, a simple wet cleaning using dichlorvos is no longer enough, but you have to organize a full-fledged flea persecution.

Why are fleas dangerous to humans?

The appearance of fleas in the apartment ultimately leads to unpleasant consequences and unpleasant bites are only a small fraction of what everything can turn out to be.

The enzyme, which is contained in the flea's saliva, not only causes swelling at the site of the bite, but also delivers an unpleasant itch and can heal for a long time and painfully. In this case, an infection can get into the wound. Moreover, complications in the form of severe allergic reactions are possible.

Poor health of a pet with possible complications, including infestations with worms. Constant itching from bites makes animals nervous. Pain is excruciating. Various skin diseases are possible, the treatment of which will also bring suffering to animals.

Destruction of fleas in an apartment in St. Petersburg

If one or two individuals are found in an apartment where there are no pets, it is quite possible to get by with folk methods of getting rid of fleas. Fleas do not tolerate strong odors, most often they use wormwood or Persian tansy leaves, pine sawdust or shavings, a mixture of table salt and soda, or ordinary turpentine. The main thing is to endure these smells steadfastly and patiently or leave the apartment for a couple of days.

However, folk remedies will no longer help from a large colony of fleas in an apartment or house; professional flea disinsection using modern drugs will be required.

Flea disinfection gives instant result. Due to the small size of insects, as well as their activity at any time of the day, the action of the drug leads to the rapid destruction of all individuals in the fog-treated room.

Fleas in pets are not unpredictable. If your pet walks freely on the street and comes into contact with other cats or dogs, then he is likely to bring home. Are they a potential danger to humans? Most will say no. In fact, any warm-blooded animals can be bitten, especially if the fleas are hungry. Today we’ll talk about whether fleas live on people in more detail.

Varieties

It is believed that these insects are transmitted from cats and dogs to other pets, and people are bitten only by accident. Let's figure it out together. To date, there are only two varieties of the human flea:

• Tunga penetrans (this species, fortunately, practically does not occur with us) - when attacked by representatives, a serious disease develops. The fact is that the female lays offspring, biting under the skin.
• Pulex irritans - These fleas can live almost everywhere.

In addition to them, there are about 30 more varieties that can live in an apartment for a long time.

Do fleas live on people? No, they don't live. Why do people periodically attack these insects and suffer from their bites? The answers to these questions lie in the biology of the bloodsucking creature.

In nature, they live on the ground and visit their owners only at the time of feeding. Bloodsuckers can use a person as a source of food, but they will not live on it. If fleas have chosen an apartment, they will lay their eggs in separate corners that they like. They hatch into larvae that feed on organic matter. In unwashed dog litter, there are usually more of them than necessary. The larva turns into a pupa, from which an adult emerges. It is she who, getting out in search of food, can casually bite anyone.

It becomes clear whether fleas live on people. They cannot spend a long time on the human body. Unlike a dog or a cat, he has no fur, and she will simply have nowhere to hide. The longest they can linger on the head in the hair, but they will not be able to live like that. Usually, after biting their victim and receiving a dose of fresh blood, they leave their temporary "master" and return to the floor, to the bedding or to a secluded corner.

Flea Bites: Fact or Fiction

If you still have doubts about whether fleas live on people, then you can safely forget about them. They do not have suction cups or hooks with which insects could be held on the body. But any warm-blooded creature can become a victim of these bloodsuckers. They use everyone who gets into their habitat, although they are adapted to do without food for some time.

They will bite anyone. The only selection criterion is warm-bloodedness. Therefore, the question of whether fleas pass to humans can be considered in two ways. They will not live on it, but they will not refuse to feast on blood. Only accessibility matters. By the way, bloodsuckers are always more active in the warm season, in hot weather.

What is worth knowing

In order to understand in time what you are dealing with, you need to know what flea bites look like in humans. Only in this way will you be able to distinguish them from mosquito bites, bedbugs or an allergic reaction to food. Fleas cause the most discomfort when they bite. After a few hours, allergic edema may occur. Its intensity will depend on the individual characteristics and inclinations of the person. In addition to the fact that the affected area itches, it also hurts a lot.

Since flea bites in humans look the same as mosquito bites, it is the soreness of the bitten area that makes it possible to understand that this is a trace from another insect. Unlike mosquitoes, these bloodsuckers do not inject an anesthetic. Instead, only irritating saliva enters the body.

Individual characteristics

Of course, each person will have their own reaction. There are people who are completely insensitive. They simply won't notice the bite and will claim that their fleas didn't bite. Other family members who do not have this property of the body may notice slight discomfort. Allergy sufferers are the worst. On their body, each bite will turn into a huge bubble that will itch and hurt. Antihistamines will help to improve the condition a little, but the problem will not go away completely.

dangers

But in itself, redness of the skin area does not pose any threat to life and health. Why are fleas dangerous to humans? The fact is that these bloodsuckers are carriers of terrible diseases. These are bubonic plague already mentioned above, anthrax and encephalitis, tularemia and typhus. The consequences of "communication" with fleas can be various types of fungi.

Of course, not every cat or dog flea is a carrier. The probability of meeting such a person in your home is negligible. But we must not forget how dangerous fleas are for humans. Every year, thousands of cases are recorded in the world when a flea bite became the cause of a dangerous disease.

What to do

Plain water may not be enough. In order for the treatment to be successful, all surfaces must be treated with a solution of Butox or Neostomazan or their analogues. They are sold in veterinary pharmacies without a prescription and are supplied with detailed instructions.

Instructions for action

You can get rid of insects in the apartment with the help of various drugs that are freely available today. These are "Raptor" and "Raid", "Combat" and a number of analogues. Read the instructions carefully before use. You will have to process all things, floors and walls, furniture. Follow a few simple guidelines. Before processing, be sure to vacuum the entire apartment. Throw away all the garbage at once, because they can remain in the dust. Just in case, treat the apartment or house twice. If fleas have settled in human hair, be sure to treat them with a special shampoo.

Pet protection

Dogs and cats must wear collars with repellent components or use special drops. If you do not allow the appearance of insects in your pets, then the chances of being bitten by a person are much less. Cat fleas on a person in most cases appear when their pets go for a walk, to visit less well-groomed representatives of the genus. To avoid this, the bedding is carefully washed, then wormwood is laid out on them. The animals themselves need to be redeemed in a Butox solution.

Instead of a conclusion

There are no separate ways to get rid of fleas in humans. But this is understandable, because bloodsuckers do not live on our body. It is simply not recommended to comb the wounds so that the infection does not get into them. It is better to treat bites with any disinfectant solutions. Itching may require the use of any soothing ointment. And in any case, it is much easier to prevent them from appearing in your home. If prevention does not work, you will need to make every effort so that the treatment is single and effective.

The most common habitats for fleas in an apartment are:

• Carpets;
• Pet bedding;
• Cushioned furniture;
• Bed sheets;
• Clothing;
• Hard-to-reach places behind skirting boards and in wall crevices.

Carpets and upholstered furniture

Pet rugs are one of the most favorite flea habitats in the apartment.

In apartments, especially in the presence of pets, fleas often settle in carpets. Insects give preference to natural pile, in which they feel comfortable. This is explained by the fact that they live at a low altitude. Their habitats are located no higher than one meter from the floor, which is why bites appear most often in a person on their feet.

For the same reason, flea habitats become: upholstered furniture (sofas and armchairs), children's toys made of fabric and fur, carpets on the walls. Thanks to the warm pile, these interior items create optimal conditions for the reproduction of blood-sucking insects. So, at a temperature of +27 and high humidity, the development cycle of a flea lasts only 21 days. Under other conditions, the duration of the cycle can be increased up to 8 months.

Bed and linens

The bed is the most convenient place for fleas, where they sit out after saturation. Most often, insects live in the folds of bed linen and go hunting at night, when a person is sleeping. A wonderful habitat is created in mattresses, which should be taken into account when treating the bed to kill insects.

Often, flea bites are confused with bedbug bites, which also choose a human bed as a habitat. Flea marks remain on linen, which are small brown spots in the form of commas.

Basements of multi-storey buildings

The reproduction of these blood-sucking insects is facilitated by homeless animals living in basements during the cold season. Mice and rats that can appear in the basements of houses are also their peddlers. The presence of fleas is especially felt by the owners of apartments located on the first floors of residential buildings. Insects can enter the apartment through ventilation holes and cracks in the floors.

Important! To prevent the appearance of fleas in basements, it is necessary to eliminate dampness and clean the room from debris. In case of infection and reproduction of insects, a thorough treatment of the entire basement area should be carried out.

Other flea habitats in the apartment

Wardrobes are another place where bed fleas often live. They can make nests, both in linen and in furniture crevices, so when they are destroyed, it is necessary to process the front and back of the cabinet.

These blood-sucking insects give the greatest preference to pets. Often they also start in birds kept in cages. A good owner who wants to prevent the spread of insects throughout the apartment is attentive to his pets and treats them in a timely manner.

Domestic fleas, like bedbugs, can live in any secluded places, therefore, if necessary, their destruction should be carried out throughout the apartment. Residents of the first floors should not forget about the treatment of basements.

Getting fleas out of the house is sometimes a rather difficult and time-consuming task. But with the help of modern means and methods, as well as the presence of patience, everyone will successfully cope with it. So, what to do if fleas appeared in the house: where and how to get rid of?

What do house fleas look like?

• size - the body length of an adult reaches 0.1-0.5 cm;
• color - the color of the flea can be black, red, brown or dark red;
• structure - the body is slightly flattened on the sides, covered with tiny bristles and spikes; there are six legs on the abdomen (like all insects), wings are absent;
• the nature of movement - fleas are very jumpy, with one jump they can cover a distance of up to 0.5 in height up to 1 m in length.
• lifestyle - these insects are active at any time of the day; if they are hungry, then they go out to look for a victim both day and night.

What causes fleas in a house or apartment

There are several ways to get fleas into an apartment or a private house:

• Neighbors' apartments.

There is a high risk of blood-sucking insects getting into housing in the neighborhood with dysfunctional families, where no one keeps order and cleanliness in the house. In addition, if someone decides to poison fleas, they can go in search of a new shelter and settle with neighbors.

• Basements.

• Pets.

And finally, any of the family members can simply bring a flea from the street on clothes or in a bag. Since they multiply very quickly, in two to three weeks the pests will fill the whole house.

Signs that household fleas have started in the house

Finally, it is not difficult to notice the insects themselves, especially if you spread a white sheet in one of the rooms.

Why are fleas dangerous for humans?

• tularemia;
• plague;
• encephalitis;
• hepatitis B;
• hepatitis C;
• anthrax;
• typhus;
• salmonellosis;
• brucellosis, etc.

The most dangerous type of flea is rat, because rats also carry many dangerous infections. By biting a rat, a flea becomes infected with them and can, in turn, infect another animal or person, without dying itself. Parents of young children and the elderly should be especially careful about flea bites.

It is necessary to fight fleas in a private house or apartment in a complex way. Here's what to do to destroy insects at home once and for all:

Animals

We must not forget about the accessories of a pet: all beds and rugs must be knocked out, washed and dried; rubber toys and bowls should be thoroughly cleaned and boiled. All these measures will help destroy insect eggs.

Preparing the room for processing

Before using chemical or folk remedies to get rid of fleas, it is necessary to prepare the living space. They do it like this:

• vacuum cleaning of all coverings, sofas and carpets, as well as wet cleaning in each room of the apartment;
• food products are wrapped in a special protective film and put in the refrigerator;

Note: if possible, it is better to take out the refrigerator with food from the apartment for a while.

• bed linen, carpets are shaken out and washed;
• household appliances and electrical appliances are switched off and also covered with a protective film - the latter also applies to indoor plants and an aquarium;

Before cleaning, remove all pets from the house, giving them to the care of neighbors or friends. The next stage is the processing of the house with special means.

Treatment

You can treat a room from fleas in different ways: folk remedies, chemicals, or with the help of physical impact. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. So, chemicals will help remove fleas quickly and permanently, but these drugs do not have the best effect on human health (for example, they can cause severe allergies).

Therefore, they are not recommended for use if there are small children or animals in the house. Alternative methods are safe, but may be ineffective due to their relatively gentle effect. See below for details on processing methods.

Cleaning

A few hours after treatment, whatever it may be, the apartment must be ventilated, and after another two or three days, wet cleaning of the room must be done.

Flea insecticides and how to work with them

Chemicals are guaranteed to rid your home of fleas, but since these substances are toxic, you should follow some rules when working with them:

As for preparations for removing fleas from an apartment, they most often use:

• aerosols;
• powders;
• liquid funds.

Powders act similarly - they kill larvae and adults. The result of such funds will be durable and effective, but not the fastest.

Here are some of the most popular flea treatments on the market:

Folk methods of getting rid of fleas

Natural remedies may not be as effective as strong chemicals, but they can be used safely. So, what kind of folk remedies are fleas afraid of?

Like any other insects, fleas are very sensitive to odors, and some scents can be detrimental to them. Knowing this, people use such means as:

physical impact

Fleas feel great at temperatures from -20 to +50 degrees. Of course, it will not be possible to set the upper temperature threshold in the apartment, but it is quite possible to freeze insects if it happens in the cold season. You just need to open all the windows in the apartment in the cold and leave it for a couple of days. The result, of course, is not guaranteed.

These are the answers to the question "How to get fleas out of the house?" There are many ways, and any determined owner will be able to choose the most suitable one for himself and his family in order to evict uninvited guests from their homes.