Fleas can remain in carpet without end unless intervention takes place. Due to the eggs falling into the carpet or other animal resting place, the eggs hatch and larvae and pupae can then be found in the carpet. Adult fleas, however, are typically on the animal.
On average, a flea can live for two to three months in the carpet. But without intervention, they can stay in the carpet without end if they have a host. If a blood meal isn't consumed the flea may only survive for a few days. Flea eggs live for two to three days before hatching.
As mentioned earlier, vacuuming stimulates insecticide-resistant flea pupae/cocoons to hatch, bringing emerging adults into contact with the treatment sooner. If adult fleas continue to be seen beyond 4 weeks, retreatment of the premises and/or pets may be necessary.
Flea Infestation in Carpet
Fleas lay up to 50 eggs per day within the fur of their animal hosts. As pets move around indoors, the eggs fall into floor cracks and carpeting. After hatching, larvae embed deep within carpet fibers and pet bedding and become difficult to remove.
In cooler temperatures, flea eggs will take days to hatch. Many flea eggs can lay dormant for weeks to months.
Vacuum Your Carpet
Vacuuming sucks away fleas, along with eggs, larvae, and pupae. It also removes flea blood and feces, which can serve as a food source. Vacuum the carpet several times, and don't forget to use the attachments to get into corners and crevices along the baseboards.
According to extensive studies conducted at Ohio State University, vacuuming is indeed an effective way of getting rid of fleas! Through these studies, scientists discovered that vacuuming killed 96% of adult fleas from carpets and 100% of the flea pupae and larvae.
If not properly treated, these insects can survive in the carpet in a continuous cycle that can span many flea generations. One thorough carpet cleaning session can destroy a colony, yet it is sometimes recommended to have a follow-up session just to be sure the insects are removed from the carpet completely.
To put it bluntly: yes, you can in fact have fleas without pets. If you're concerned that fleas have somehow managed to infest your home despite having no pets, you should be looking out for a few signs: You have bites on your body.
“Egg-Stopper” Collars- Unlike conventional flea collars, these contain an insect growth regulating ingredient (methoprene or pyriproxyfen) which prevents egg hatch for several months.
Flea eggs represent approximately 50% of the total flea population. Eggs may hatch in as little as 14 days, or as many as 28 days, depending on environmental conditions. High humidity and warm temperatures make for perfect hatching conditions.
Prior to spraying, vacuum your home thoroughly. This allows the spray to penetrate deep into carpet fibres. The vibrations and warmth from the vacuum cleaner also create a stimulus for adult fleas to emerge from the otherwise impenetrable pupae, allowing them to be exposed to the spray.
Flea eggs have a soft shell called a “chorion” that has an off-white color, similar to a grain of salt, though they are more oval in shape. Because flea eggs are easy to mistake for dry skin or sand, it's usually not the first thing pet parents notice if their pet has a flea problem.
If you can see them, flea eggs on a dog will often appear as tiny white specks, small white flecks, or tiny grains of salt. They're usually clustered together.
Get Steamy. Once you have vacuumed your floors and upholstery, consider using a steamer or washing coverings in hot water. The heat will kill any additional fleas that may have been left behind. Other surfaces such as countertops and tables can also be cleaned with hot water.
Frequently vacuuming the areas where our pets hang out indoors can remove a lot of flea eggs; flea eggs cannot survive the physical trauma of being vacuumed. The thicker or deeper your carpets are, the more difficult it will be to vacuum up all the flea eggs. Vacuum every two to three days for best results.
Washing clothing and fabrics might not be a 100% cure for a flea infestation, but as long as you wash absolutely everything, it will take a sizable chunk out of the population.
There are certain rules you must follow after your treatment to make sure it's as effective as possible. You must not: enter your home for at least two hours afterwards because the insecticide spray can be harmful to people and pets. clean or vacuum the treated areas for at least 14 days to allow the spray time to work.
When the temperature and humidity are right flea eggs will be constantly hatching out. New adult fleas will also constantly emerge from the pupae stage when the conditions are right. The new adult fleas will only hatch when a host animal is close by, as they need a blood meal to survive.
Adult fleas will be killed within a few days but the floor should not be vacuumed, swept or washed for at least two weeks after treatment because there will still be eggs which will continue to hatch.
Using a DIY flea spray of apple cider vinegar on a rug or dog bed will not kill fleas of any life stage. That's because the acid in vinegar is not strong enough to penetrate the shell of flea eggs or larvae.