Grace Q asked 5 years ago
Hi I’ve been studying the information on the site to try and make sense of what has been happening to my home. It got infested with fleas from next doors dog, who moved out last Sept. The flat next door had been infested for at least a few months before I knew anything about it, in August. It wasn’t sprayed till Nov, and the carpets were changed. It has been clear of fleas since then. I;ve been having problems with fleas in my flat since August, before that I had had a few bites, going back a few months but I had no idea what was going on. I think i was picking them up in a shared entrance hall. Originally i tried Indorex spray but it wasn\\\’t enough. My flat was sprayed with ficam w on 20 sept, again in Oct and Nov. Then on 7 Dec with Cypermethrin and an IGR with Methoprene (6.11% S-Methoprene), plus a smoke bomb. But I have started to get bites again in the last week and a half.(Jan) I am using Indorex to contain the problem atm and wondering whats best to do next. Vacuuming every few days as its all I can manage My questions: You say that fleas will die out in the absence of a pet. I am the only food source for them now and have been since they invaded my flat. It\\\’s been a long time, surely some of these were bred in my flat ? Do you know for a fact that they can\\\’t reproduce on human? Have you seen infestations die out in these circumstances? I hope its just the last ones emerging from cocoons but am afraid that they are still breeding I should explain, I have a chronic illness and don\\\’t vacuum that regularly. I had no idea how important it is in dealing with this problem. (Never kept pets or dealt w fleas before). Living room bedroom and hall are carpeted. The remaining problem seems to be mainly in the bedroom. So only since Dec has regular vacuuming every few days happened. Also I sleep on a futon and lie on the sofa a lot so they have had easy access to me and I ve been bitten a lot. The bites have been getting smaller. After the original spraying the fleas were smaller, less robust I think. Do you know if that is because of some effect the spray is having on them or just that they are smaller when they emerge? Always the tiny puncture wound in the centre, but a white weal around it, not purple and angry looking like the original ones were. Still itchy but it fades sooner Last question, how long is that IGR likely to remain effective having been sprayed on Dec 7th? I hope I;ve added all the important points, please ask if anything isn’t clear
Adam Retzer Staff answered 5 years ago
Grace Q,
I am sorry to hear about your flea issue.
Your situation sounds very strange. Regardless of the source of the fleas, or the type of flea, they shouldn’t be able to continue surviving in your home if it was treated with an IGR. And it sounds like you’ve thoroughly treated it with an IGR multiple times.
Human fleas (P. irritans) can survive and reproduce on human blood. Here is a page on how to identify them. You can use a flea trap to capture and identify the species. However, this is a fairly rare species. And, again, with the IGR-treated environment, they shouldn’t be able to successfully reproduce.
Another possibility is that there is some other animal host bringing the fleas into your home. For example, mice and rats can carry rodent fleas. The infestation may not go away until the rodents are eradicated. I have also heard of birds nests near windows causing bird fleas in homes. But again, the IGR should have prevented any new generation of fleas from surviving in the home.
Fleas are smaller when they emerge and are unfed. Once they feed, their abdomens swell and double in size.
The IGR treatment should last for 7 months.
I am not sure what is going on in your situation. Your case is a bizarre one. It sounds like it needs an in-person evaluation by a professional, so they can identify the host and source of the infestation. I can’t offer much help from behind a screen.
Warm regards,
Adam
