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Flea & Tick Info
Fleas
Fleas thrive in areas
with high humidity (70% or higher) and moderate to warm
temperatures (65 - 80 degrees). Flea pupae aren't killed by
frigid weather. Consequently flea population explosions can
occur almost overnight in the spring, making year-long
control even more critical. A flea's life consists of
distinct stages:
| Eggs:
Eggs are oval shaped and are laid on the animal where
they fall off into the environment. One female can lay
up to 20 - 30 eggs per day and up to two
thousand during her lifetime.
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Larvae:
Larvae emerge from the eggs 2 - 16 days later,
depending on the temperature and humidity. The small,
maggot - like larvae feed on organic debris in the
environment, and blood rich feces of adult fleas.
Highly sensitive to light, they burrow into cracks,
crevices, or carpets.
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| Pupae:
Over the course of 10 days or more, flea larvae molt
twice, spin a cocoon, and enter a pupal stage. Fleas
in the pupal stage are resistant to all insecticides.
They lie dormant in the cocoon from one week to one
year. It is in this stage that fleas are capable of
withstanding low temperatures for short periods (2
week duration). Stimulated by vibration, pressure and
movement of nearby pets or people, body heat, or
exhaled carbon dioxide, adult fleas emerge from the
pupal stage, and immediately jump on a host in
anticipation of a blood meal.
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Adults: Only 5% of
the flea population is in the adult stage. They spend
all of their time on the animal, feeding on blood.
Adult fleas feed by piercing the skin with their mouth
parts, sucking blood. Flea bites can cause
intense irritation and some animals become
allergic to flea saliva.
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The life
span of the uncontrolled adult flea on the pet can
range from 4 to 12 months, depending on grooming
behavior of the animal. After ingesting their first
blood meal, fleas reach their sexual maturity. They
copulate and females begin laying eggs. Over the
female's lifetime she can lay up to 2,000 eggs.
Adult cat fleas are permanent ectoparasites on the
host because they are unable to survive more than a
few days without a blood meal. Feasting on the
animal's blood, they can cause severe discomfort to
the host.
Areas conducive to flea development include:
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 | Shaded areas with moist soil
and organic covering (e.g. pine straw) |
| Under decks or shrubbery
where animals may rest out of the sun |
| In and around bedding in dog
houses and outside kennel areas |
| Low traffic, protected,
carpeted areas where pets spend time resting
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The tick
life cycle consists of four stages: eggs, six - legged
larvae (seed ticks), eight - legged nymphs, and eight
- legged adults. Each stage is separated by a molt.
After feeding on the host's blood, the engorged female
tick usually lays her eggs (thousands!) in the
environment and then she dies.
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Hard
Ticks
There are several
types of hard ticks. One - host ticks remain on the
same host throughout all stages of development. Two -
host ticks feed on the same animal in the larval and
nymphal stage, drop off and molt, and then attach to a
new host as adults. Three - host ticks drop off
between all stages, molt, and parasitize a new host
after each engorgement (blood meal). After feeding on
the host's blood, the female hard tick lays thousands
of eggs and then she dies.
Some species of
hard ticks can develop in just over two months, and
live without blood for over one year as adults.
Soft Ticks
Soft ticks are
generally found in warm climates, rarely travel from
their attachment site, and usually feed at night. The
most common soft tick is the Spinose Ear Tick. They
enter the ear of the host when they are larvae, attach
themselves, and stay in the ear until the adult stage
when they mate and drop off. Females deposit many
small batches of eggs before they die. Even though
they can live in the host's environment, they are not
parasitic in the adult stage.
Some types of soft
ticks can develop in as little as 30 days. Some larvae
and nymphs can survive for months and adults for years
without a blood meal.
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| Copyright 2002 - Flea Control 4 Less |
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