Chaz Hout asked 8 years ago
I recently found that I have fleas. This website has been very helpful and I really appreciate that there are so many citations that go with each article.
I do not have pets, but there are a couple stray cats in the neighborhood. The cats have been around for a long time. I don’t feed them and try to keep them out of my yard as they sometimes cut through to get to the area they seem to be living.
I recently found a flea on my sock and it hopped away before I could get it. I made a flea trap and caught one fed (it didn’t look fully fed) flea, though I don’t have any signs of bites. I then vacuumed all the carpeted rooms and mopped the rooms that are not carpeted. I also vacuumed all the upholstered furniture. I then sprayed Raid flea spray for carpets and furniture. I also did the curtains. I vacuumed again the next day and later saw another flea on my sock, but it jumped away before I could get it. I panicked a bit and sprayed with Raid again and have vacuumed the furniture, carpeted rooms, rooms without carpeting, etc… for three days in a row. I caught a flea that hadn’t been fed yesterday on my sock. The homemade flea trap (soapy water and a desk lamp) hasn’t had any fleas in it other than the one.
I plan to vacuum daily and spray again in two weeks.
I also cut the grass in the backyard and in the front yard. I haven’t sprayed anything outside except for the front and back porch.
Is this enough to get rid of the fleas or should I get a professional? When will the fleas die out, given that I am their only possible food source in the house? Do I need to vacuum everyday? Or will every other day produce the same results. Vacuuming daily is already getting exhausting, but I will continue if it is the best route to take.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Adam Retzer Staff answered 8 years ago
Hello Chaz, I’m glad you found the website helpful. From the sound of it, you don’t have much to worry about. And you don’t need to continue with any control measures.
We’re in peak flea season right now, so finding fleas isn’t uncommon. However, it’s a bit strange to have them in your home when you don’t have pets. Even stranger is that you’ve found a partially fed flea, when you show no signs on being bitten. That flea must have fed somewhere.
The stray cats in the neighborhood are a likely carrier of fleas. Other common urban wildlife that carry fleas are raccoons and opossums.
Fleas infestations almost always begin outdoors. Infested urban wildlife traverse neighborhoods and drop flea eggs as they go. The eggs develop and eventually mature into adult fleas. They emerge from cocoons and jump onto pets. The pet then brings the fleas into the home. Adult fleas stay on the animal, but eggs fall off into carpets where they develop.
Ensure there are no animals taking shelter in your home (attic, basement, crawl spaces, etc). They may be the source of the fleas.
Sometimes fleas will jump onto people, and then hitchhike on clothing into the home. However, this isn’t common.
People without pets sometimes also have to deal with fleas when they move into a home, because the previous tenant’s pet had fleas. Did you recently move in?
If you don’t have pets, then the fleas won’t survive long. Even if you had been bitten, human blood doesn’t provide enough sustenance for survival or reproduction. The fleas will die on their own in around a week.
From what you’ve described, I think you’re simply seeing a few stray fleas that somehow found their way indoors. If this is the case, without a cat or dog, these fleas won’t be much of an issue at all. Indoor control measures aren’t necessary. Even vacuuming regularly shouldn’t be required, because there won’t be any fleas developing in your carpets.
As far as outdoor control, cutting the grass can be helpful. However, fleas can’t survive well in lawns. Outdoor habitats are limited, because fleas require shady, humid, wind-protected areas. Areas where animals take shelter are flea hot-spots, a common example is under decks. Visit our page Do fleas live in grass for more information about outdoor habitats.
The best product to treat yards with is pyriproxyfen (Nylar). This is an insect growth regulator (IGR). IGRs mimic natural insect hormones, specifically those which control development. Exposed eggs and larvae won’t be able to reach adulthood. Pyriproxyfen is photo-stable enough to remain active outside for 3 to 12 weeks. That said, treating the yard might be overkill since you don’t have pets. As soon as the cold weather sets in in a few months, the fleas will die outdoors.
Just as a disclaimer, this advice only holds true if you are dealing with fleas. If it’s some other pest (e.g. bed bugs), you may need to take extra control steps. A prominent feature of fleas is their laterally flattened body.
Hope this helps!
Adam
Chaz
replied 8 years ago Adam,
Thank you for responding so quickly.
I have lived in the house for several years. So I don’t think they could be from the previous owners.
I did some research on bed bugs, but from pictures online, the couple that I saw were definitely fleas. I don’t have pets, but my sister has two cats and two dogs and she visits frequently is it possible that she carried them over on her clothes? She said she doesn’t have any at her house and that she treats her pets.
I will stop vacuuming more than normal and keep an eye out for anything unusually. I tend to be fairly paranoid about bugs, so I may keep my pants tucked in my socks for a while!
Thank you again for your help.
Adam RetzerYes, several years is long enough for the previous owners not to be the issue. 5 months is the longest that pre-emerged adults, the hardiest stage, can live.
It sounds like fleas from your description, with the hopping and all. I just wanted to ensure that all the bases were covered. I wouldn’t want you to ignore a different kind of a pest problem, and have it spin out of control.
It’s possible that your sister brought in the fleas. But, if her pets are treated, it’s more likely that your initial assumption is true and that the fleas somehow came in as a result of the feral cats in your neighborhood.
I’m happy to help.
Ima
replied 6 years ago This may not be the norm but I can attest that fleas can and do sometimes thrive in lawns especially where there are lots of domestic and wildlife living in the yard.
I had a SEVERE problem in my home years ago and discovered we were bringing them in from outside. I noticed them covering my white socks one day while working in the yard. Anytime we’d walk through the grass in our back yard our socks would be absolutely covered with LOTS AND LOTS of fleas. I’d never seen anything like it. I thought I’d never get rid of them! I was constantly steam cleaning carpet and furniture as well as spraying everything. Even after I got to the point where I deemed it “under control”, they would repopulate… especially in the bathroom. That was many years ago but I should also add that I had no indoor pets then nor do I have any now. More recently I have discovered several fleas in my bedroom and bathroom and since I know a critter (most likely a possum) has found shelter under my floor I fear I may be under siege again by these tiny, tenacious, little blood-suckers. It’s enough to drive a person insane!
I despise bugs and poison so I wonder if sprinkling baking soda in the carpet really kills them? Also wonder if spraying them directly with diluted Dawn dish soap will kill them? I’ve heard or read somewhere fleas can live a long time after being submerged.
Thanks
There have been studies on baking soda. It isn’t effective. Spraying them directly with dawn may kill some fleas, but it probably won’t help much to end an infestation. Adult fleas only make up 1-5% of the infestation. The bulk of the population are eggs, larvae, and pupae living in the environment. You can read more about Dawn’s effect on fleas here.
Rebecca Bedford
replied 5 years ago I have noticed over the last few days I have fleas !!! This will be the fourth infestation in the space of 2 years !!! I have no pets and I have used pest control companies on the other 3 occasions to eradicate the infestation can you throw any light as to the reason they keep coming back it is driving me mad and costing me a fortune not to mention I end up covered in big bites I am at a loss any advice will be a godsend thank you
It’s hard to determine why the fleas keep coming back without seeing the situation in person. The main thing to do is identify the source/host. If you don’t have pets, they may be human fleas. Perhaps hire a pest professional again and ask them to try to identify the host. There may be a opossum or raccoon living near your home. One thing you can do is apply an insect growth regulator to your floors once every 7 months. This will prevent any fleas from being able to take hold in the home.
Bella answered 5 years ago
Hi! So a few days ago my husband & I carried in a few fleas with us. We have no pets. We do have neighborhood stray cats & raccoons & such. How do we go about getting rid of them if we have no carpet?? Is there a natural solution other than bombing the house? Thanks!
Daniel answered 5 years ago
I picked up some bites while I was working in Gibraltar, It was when I came in to contact with the Barbary Macaques. Since I came home I have found lots more bites and think I brought the monkey fleas home with me. Are these the same as dog/Cat fleas or will these be more able to survive just from my blood? I’m hoping that what I read previously will be true and that they will be gone in a week. I have no pets. Do I need to Bomb the house too?
Many thanks in advance.
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Although it’s been 3 years since this question had been asked.. there sure is a problem with live fleas in a non pet household..they’re becoming more and more nuclear and survive almost everything thrown at them.. for years I would have to switch my pets flea spot treatments as they (fleas) became immune to the active ingredients.. I wud switch from Frontline after 2 years of advantix.. for the house hold with or without pets.. I haven’t had fleas at my house for years.. but have picked some up on vacation.. so before entering the cabin we rent (with 3 dogs) I cut up a flea collar and toss 1/3 (ziplocks the remainder collar) into my vacuum bag..then completely vacuum including furniture) and toss the bag I spray around the entrance both inside and out.. if I plan to stay in the yard.. I spray my legs and shoes before going out.. after a few days I redo the entire process..
The flea eggs and larvae can survive being frozen for up to 5 years (I think that’s what I heard) when they thaw out they’re just as healthy as if they were never frozen .. getting rid of fleas is just about as bad as cockroaches and can bite anyone.. not just pets !!
Good luck if you have fleas !!