Atlanta Homeowner's Guide To Flea Identification

If you live in Atlanta, you know how hard it is to keep fleas out of your house. Luckily, with the right tools and knowledge, you can have a flea-free home in no time! Here are some easy tips for identifying the different types of fleas that may be living on your property and how to handle them with pest control in Atlanta.

What Do Fleas In Atlanta Look Like?

The most common type of flea in the United States is the cat flea, also known as the Ctenocephalides felis. Despite their name, cat fleas can infest a variety of different animals.

Cat fleas are small, brown insects that measure 1/16 of an inch in length and are compressed from side to side when viewed from above. They have six legs, antennae, and large hind femurs that allow them to jump up to 12 inches into the air.

Adult cat fleas require fresh blood to produce eggs and can lay up to 24 eggs a day. The flea's life span is around two months, with the female adult cat flea living only 25 days.

Most Common Problems Fleas Cause

A flea infestation can lead to serious problems for you and your pets. Here are some of the most common problems fleas cause:

• Allergic reactions: Flea bites can cause an allergic reaction in humans and pets. The most common symptoms of a flea allergy are itchy red bumps that appear on the skin around the bites. 
• Tapeworms: If a dog or cat ingests an infected flea, tapeworms will develop inside the animal's intestines. These parasites can cause weight loss, diarrhea, and vomiting in dogs and cats without treatment.
• Diseases: Flea infestations are known for spreading diseases such as plague or typhus to people. If an infected flea bites a human, it can transmit the bacteria and cause illness.
• Anemia: Fleas can cause anemia in both dogs and cats. This condition occurs when the animal cannot produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout its body. Anemia can be fatal if left untreated.

If you're already dealing with an infestation and need flea control, Squash A Bug Pest Control can help you get rid of them before you start experiencing these problems.

Reasons Fleas Are Difficult To Get Rid Of

There are many reasons why it's difficult to get rid of fleas completely. One reason is that they can survive up to 18 months without feeding on blood. Another reason is that they can lay eggs in your carpets or other protected areas. These eggs can hatch into larvae when conditions are right (warm temperature and humidity), which means even if you think you have removed them all from your pet, there may still be some flea eggs waiting to hatch.

If there are fleas outside your home, it will be difficult to stop them from coming back inside unless you take action in the yard as well. Squash A Bug Pest Control can provide effective flea control for house and yard, stopping an infestation.

Why You Should Always Call A Professional At The First Sight Of Fleas

A flea infestation is a serious problem and one that you shouldn't take lightly. If you see fleas in your home, it's important to call a professional immediately so that they can identify the kind of fleas and the best method for getting rid of them before they spread to other areas of your house or, worse, your neighbor's home. Fleas are hard to get rid of on your own, but with help from an experienced exterminator like Squash A Bug Pest Control, we can ensure that this pest problem does not become a major concern for Atlanta homeowners.