Environment handling issues

Time and again, unsatisfactory results are achieved when fighting fleas in the home. Informing patient owners about the different development stages of fleas and their lifestyle can help to eliminate sources of error. Unfortunately, many patient owners have false expectations. What is desired is a quick solution with resounding success, however, in very severe flea infestations, live fleas can still appear for up to 8 weeks, even with optimal treatment of all pets and the surrounding area.

Flea population in the area

Only a small part of the flea population (namely 1 – 5%) consists of adult, blood-sucking fleas. The remaining 95% are made up of eggs, larvae and pupae and are located in niches and cracks in the environment, invisible to the owner. Fleas and their developmental stages are not strictly dependent on a host; when they fall off, they can also survive in the environment for months, preferring dark, hard-to-reach refuges.

This is why environmental treatment for flea infestations is so important. It is often not enough to simply remove the host using a spot-on or tablet, as this treatment is only aimed at the adult blood-sucking fleas that are currently on the animal. Breaking the flea cycle and eliminating the entire flea population (eggs, larvae and pupae) requires consistent cleaning and treatment of the environment.

A fogger and/or an environmental spray can be used for environmental treatment. The fogger independently sprays a fine mist, which distributes the active ingredients evenly on all accessible surfaces. The ambient spray, on the other hand, is sprayed directly by the user, which allows targeted treatment of specific areas. This is necessary because fleas and flea larvae are afraid of light and therefore often stay in hard-to-reach places (behind cupboards, under sofas, in wardrobes, etc.). It may also be necessary to treat the car, for example.

Retreats for the flea population / treatment priorities

Flea eggs are increasingly dropped from the animal where the animal sleeps and often spends time, but also in places where animals jump up or down (e.g. stairs, bed, sofa, windowsill) or shake themselves frequently (e.g. when putting on/ get undressed). The flea larvae hatched from the eggs avoid light and are quite mobile, which is why larvae and pupae are often found in cracks, niches and corners and are therefore difficult to reach. In the case of stubborn flea infestations, only a combination of treating the animals over several months, treating the area with a fogger and spray, and thorough cleaning will usually lead to success.

When is the treatment not successful?

Resistance to the active ingredients is rare, but cannot be ruled out. However, it is more common for fleas to still be in places that have not been moistened with the active ingredient. Such “flea reservoirs” can be found, for example: B. in cracks and corners, under beds, behind ledges, in or under cupboards, under the floorboards or in an unwashed dog blanket. Particularly in the case of massive flea infestations, numerous fleas can “appear” again in a very short space of time. Since pupated flea larvae are often found in hard-to-reach places and are also very resilient, new fleas can hatch in up to six months.

A common source of error lies in the use of the fogger: If the contents of the fogger are not sufficient for the entire area of the apartment or the fogger is so unfavorably positioned that the mist containing the active ingredient cannot reach everywhere, the entire flea population will not be killed.

It should also be borne in mind that humans are also used as carriers of fleas, so that e.g. B. a flea population can develop in the car even though no animal has ever been in it.

In the case of massive flea infestations and in problematic cases, it may be necessary in individual cases to call in a specialist (exterminator) who can assess the situation on site and take appropriate measures.

Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.