danielle2510 asked 6 years ago
How to tell when the fleas are gone? Exterminator has come twice – once for two weeks. I vacuum twice a day super thoroughly. Mop with bleach. Last night I left a flea trap and nothing hopped in them. I have a toddler who’s constantly in the floor and a newborn baby so I’m super freaked out. I need to know when these things are going to go! They were pretty much isolated to my bedroom and every once in a while would find one in the living room which is connected to my bedroom. My toddlers room and the nursery have seemed to be unaffected. I’m terrified these things seem to be gone now and tonight I’ll be hit all over again. The exterminator assured me these are sterile but still doesn’t feel good to see them. Should they all be emerged from the carpets by now? First time sprayed was last Wednesday and second time was two days ago.
Adam Retzer Staff answered 6 years ago
Danielle,
It usually takes at least 8 weeks for flea infestations to end. This is because 95-99% of the population are eggs, larvae, and pupae living in the environment. They often live deep within carpets (or other protected refuges) where sprays and vacuuming can’t penetrate. As a result, patience is required while waiting for all of these young stages to mature, emerge as a adults, and die.
As mentioned, control efforts won’t affect many of the immature stages, because they live in protected micro-habitats. Treatments will typically only kill adult fleas living in the environment at the time of treatment, which won’t be many. However, if an insect growth regulator (IGR) is sprayed (which it probably was by the exterminator, and is also included in Precor 2000 Plus), then the immature stages present at the time of spraying should be the last generation. New eggs that fall on to IGR-treated surfaces won’t be able to develop.
Vacuuming doesn’t need to be done twice a day, though it won’t hurt. Here is more info on how often to vacuum.
You may want to limit the mopping. Wet floor cleaning can diminish the efficacy of insecticides.
Do you have pets?
Let me know if you have further questions and I will try to answer the best I can.
Warm regards,
Adam
danielle2510
replied 6 years ago Adam thank you for your response.
What exactly do you mean by the immature stages? How will I know when those last stages are gone? I’m just ready to stop seeing them. The exterminator told me by this weekend I shouldn’t see another flea. I don’t want them on my Little’s.
No more pets at all.
Exterminator said vacuum twice a day. So that’s why I’ve been doing it. And I thought that mopping with bleach kills them as well?
Adam RetzerThe immature stages are the eggs, larvae, and pupae. Eggs are laid on the animal host, but they aren’t sticky and fall off within a few hours. The eggs accumulate in areas where pets spend a lot of time sleeping, grooming, and eating. Upon hatching, the larvae avoid light, moving deep down into the substrate. This is usually at the base of carpets, or cracks and crevices in hard floors. There, the larvae pupate into adults.
Because the larvae move deep down into the substrate, sprays and vacuums can’t reach many of them. They are fairly protected in their micro-environment.
It’s hard to know when the immature stages are gone, because they are hidden in the environment. One way is to place a flea trap in hot-spot rooms. Traps are useful for monitoring populations of newly emerging adults.
Without pets (and with an IGR sprayed) there should be no more new eggs. You just need to wait until all of the immature stages develop into adults and then die. The flea life cycle from egg to adult takes around 17-26 days in homes. However, cocooned adults can enter a quiescent (sleep-like) state for up 5 months, and they make control a little more bothersome. The pre-emerged adults will rapidly wake up when they detect a host (heat and pressure). Vacuuming is a good way simulate these host cues and trigger emergence.
Vacuuming twice a day definitely won’t hurt.
Mopping with bleach may kill the present fleas. But it will also reduce the efficacy and duration of insecticides. For example, the IGR would normally remain active for 7 months, and you may be significantly reducing this duration.
JoeRobinson answered 6 years ago
Well, make sure the sprays that the exterminator uses are 100% effective, because sprays from a supermarket are usually useless. I had also deal with similar issue. I had called a local Pest Control Walnut Creek company and they came out the next day. The exterminator Walnut Creek took a week and make the fleas out of the house. They had used high concentration insecticides and so far no bites and they had provided me with guarantee work.
danielle2510
replied 6 years ago I used arrow so I’m not sure what they used but I’m pretty sure the work is guaranteed. But I’m still seeing them. It’s like they spray and it’s calm for a few days then bam I see at least 5-7 a day. I’m vacuuming twice a day. I don’t understand. I’m ready to pack our stuff and just move. My nerves are shot trying to keep my babies away from this. I don’t understand why they won’t go away.
danielle2510
replied 6 years ago And I have found two in the toddlers room now. It’s like they have spread!! I just don’t understand why it’s not getting better.
Oh and add I have found two now in the toddlers room. So it’s like they have spread!!
Update: five days ago now we sprayed precor and after the second day didn’t see one flea. Until last night … I found FOUR. Why why why?! There’s no more animals in the home. One flea was super tiny. And the other three looked fully grown. How are they this big without a host? How are they still alive? I have a newborn and this is so so much. Im at my wits end. My anxiety is so high and I cannot take this anymore. Please help!
Found currently two today so far .. it’s only 2 pm.
Exterminator that sprayed said it was crawl space but they won’t come out for 7-10 days.
The exterminator who told us to spray precor said he doesn’t think that’s the case since the numbers aren’t high and that this is normal Bc they are all still coming out of hiding from spraying the precor.
I need this to end. I need to stop seeing them. When will this end?!?
I do not understand! We are new renters. And never had pets. Landlord mentioned no animals. Whitch however we were ok with! So moved fully in. Then start seeing bugs jump! Not being preppy but we both never felt with animals?ugh..