How to deal with earthen fleas and how can you get them out?

There are thousands of types of parasites that significantly spoil the lives of people and animals. The most dangerous and annoying types of insects are considered to be basement or earthen fleas.

Blood-sucking parasites multiply quickly and survive in almost any conditions. Therefore, it is quite difficult to destroy them. But with the right, long-term, comprehensive approach, it is possible to get rid of parasites.

To do this, you need to disinfect your home using professional and folk remedies.

Description of earthen fleas

Ground fleas got their name because of their habitat. They live in the ground, in the summer - in the upper soil layers, in the winter they descend deeper to lay eggs. The color of the parasites has dark brown shades, the body length is no more than three millimeters. They are quite difficult to detect with the naked eye. If you suspect that fleas have settled in the house, place a white sheet of paper, for example, on a chair or other upholstered furniture. Soon small black dots appear on the leaf; these are parasites.

Earth fleas are offensively jumpy. A height of 50 cm is not an obstacle for them. Parasites easily jump onto the body of an animal or person and are held on to it with the help of a huge number of bristles.

Fleas are considered long-lived among household insects. They live up to two years and produce up to five hundred offspring over the course of their life.

The adult female lays eggs only after feeding on blood. About 48 hours after the meal, 40-50 eggs appear. On the tenth day (possibly earlier, depending on conditions and environment), a larva is born from each egg. The larvae hide in dark crevices and corners because they are afraid of daylight. After one to two weeks, the larva creates a protective cocoon around itself, in which it stays for up to two hundred days. Then a young flea emerges from the pupa.

Habitats

Ground fleas, as the name suggests, live in the ground. The quality of the soil does not matter to them, but in sand and loose soil they are more mobile. For the winter, they burrow to a considerable depth - up to 20 cm, pupate and thus wait out the frosts. When it gets warmer outside, fleas come to the surface; there are especially many of them after rains and with the onset of heat.

Most often they can be found in the basements of apartment and private buildings, industrial or commercial premises. Pests prefer abandoned spaces with unsanitary conditions, but can settle anywhere, even where they keep order. They love warm rooms with high humidity.

Since earth fleas feed on blood, they move around in search of prey. Most often, residents of the first floors of high-rise buildings suffer from them.

Why are earth fleas dangerous?

Earth fleas can cause a lot of inconvenience, bordering on danger. They turn regular home life into hell, especially at night. A person cannot get enough sleep because he is constantly exposed to flea bites. This leads to stress, irritation, decreased performance and overall quality of life.

Pets infected with fleas begin to suffer from the consequences of bites, constantly itch, and bring fleas into the house on their fur.

Fleas bite because of their parasitic lifestyle, and only females do this. It is the females who need to receive a large amount of blood protein, which she needs to bear and feed new offspring of fleas.

How do fleas get into a house or apartment?

Uninvited guests enter the house from attics and basements. If these parts of the house are in poor sanitary condition, then infestation with parasites is simply inevitable. Dust and high humidity are the best conditions for fleas to live and reproduce.

Often fleas are “picked up” in public places, for example, at a train station, and brought into the house on clothes or shoes.

So, the ways fleas enter the house:

• on the fur of pets;
• on a person’s shoes and clothing;
• from unsanitary places at home;
• from neighboring houses and plots;
• on the body of rodents (mice, rats).

Fleas are happy to stay in such hidden places where it is warm and humid. This is their native element and they find it under baseboards, in carpets, in upholstered furniture, under linoleum, in plush toys.

How to prepare for disinfestation

An apartment, room, house must be prepared for the application of insecticides. Any pests do not like cleanliness and order. First you need to sort out the rubble, take out the trash, remove lying around, vacuum upholstered furniture and carpets. It is advisable to wash or dry-clean textiles. A steam generator can be used to treat non-smooth surfaces. Smooth surfaces should be washed, paying attention to the top panels of cabinets, lamps and other places where dust can accumulate.

Earth flea bites: what they look like, why they are dangerous

Fleas bite and cause a lot of problems. A red spot with a diameter of up to 2 cm forms at the site of the bite. Depending on the reaction of the human body, the spot may have a swollen appearance.

The bite site is very itchy. Fenistil gel or its analogues will help eliminate itching. It is especially important to quickly help children because, unlike adults, they cannot cope with the strong desire to scratch an itchy bite.

To avoid infection from strong scratching, it is necessary to treat the skin with an antiseptic. Miramistin and chlorhexidine are suitable.

Multiple bites can cause anaphylactic shock. Therefore, if fleas attack, you need to urgently consult a doctor for medical help.

Allergy

In people prone to allergies, flea bites can cause pulicosis. Children are especially susceptible to allergic reactions. Severe irritation and itching occurs at the site of the bite. If the child has white skin, then you can notice purple - a reaction to a flea bite in the form of subcutaneous hemorrhage.

Inflammation

If the flea was a carrier of some disease, then inflammation and an abscess occurs at the site of the bite. It should be immediately treated with iodine and consult a doctor for medical help.

Diseases transmitted through a bite

Earth flea bites are dangerous. They carry:

• encephalitis (inflammatory disease of the brain);
• plague (an acute infectious disease affecting almost all organs, accompanied by the development of sepsis);
• typhus (an intestinal infection accompanied by fever and mental disturbances);
• hepatitis (viral liver disease);
• salmonellosis (intestinal infection).

Fleas are able to “reward” even helminths (Toxocara, tapeworms).

How to get rid of earthen fleas: folk remedies

It is quite possible to cope with an invasion of earthen fleas using folk remedies. The main thing is to treat all suspicious places where they might be hiding. These are cracks, cracks, places in the house where daylight does not reach, where there is a lot of dust, dirt, and high humidity. You should not lose sight of the land, especially if there is a dog kennel on it.

You can do a simple test to determine if there are fleas outside. You need to wear white high socks and walk along the same route that the dog always walks. If a couple of fleas appear on your socks, then the area definitely needs to be treated for parasites. Including the dog kennel.

The fight against fleas in a private home should start from the basement. This is a source of breeding for earth fleas and it urgently needs to be cleaned of debris and dirt, ventilated and treated with special means. After the basement, you need to take care of the apartment. Fleas are afraid of cleanliness, so it is important to clean thoroughly:

• remove dust in crevices, cracks, behind baseboards;
• vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, toys, mattresses;
• wash pet bedding and beds;
• Wipe off dust from all surfaces (cabinets, window sills, shelves).

Salt and soda

The simplest ingredients that are in any home are salt and soda. From them you can prepare a universal remedy for fighting parasites. Mix salt and baking soda in equal proportions and sprinkle the resulting mixture on all soft surfaces with pile (carpets, bedding, upholstered furniture). After ten hours, vacuum the treated surfaces, thereby removing the mixture and dead fleas. The procedure is repeated after two days.

The smell of pine

The needles have a strong specific aroma and you may be lucky that fleas cannot stand it. Place sprigs of pine needles throughout the house and change them as they dry. The smell of pine needles can drive out parasites, but it is better to use a more reliable product.

Decoction of tansy and wormwood

No plant is used as often in the fight against parasites as wormwood. And in the company of tansy, they form a confident weapon against “uninvited guests.” Not only fleas, but also other insects (ants, flies, cockroaches) cannot stand the strong smell of wormwood. In villages, caring owners hung bunches of wormwood in the premises where livestock was kept and thereby saved them from annoying insects.

In its stems and flowers, wormwood contains volatile essential oils, which repel parasites.

It is important to understand that herbal tinctures do not destroy insects, but only repel them. Herbal remedies are good for preventing parasite infestation at home and for treating pet hair.

A decoction of tansy and wormwood is prepared as follows: place two tablespoons of crushed wormwood and tansy in a glass jar, add two glasses of water and bring to a boil in a water bath. Then the liquid is infused for four hours and cools. After this, it can be used to treat open surfaces.

Turpentine

There is no point in trying to poison fleas. Their oral apparatus is adapted only for the absorption of blood. Therefore, the only way to fight parasites is through odors. Turpentine, like kerosene, has been showing its effectiveness in killing fleas for many years. This is a contact chemical and needs to be sprayed generously on areas of infection. Turpentine is flammable, so you need to remember safety when working with it.

Repelling with plants

Mint, thyme, wormwood, and tansy repel fleas very well. Parasites cannot stand the strong smell of these plants and leave the room.

Place the herb brooms indoors. For humans, their aromas are pleasant and create a feeling of a fresh summer meadow in the house. It is important to use freshly picked herbs; limp plants are of no use.

Wormwood tincture

One form of wormwood is a tincture, which is mostly used to treat pet hair. It is not dangerous to their health, but it successfully drives away fleas that have attached themselves to the hairs of their fur. Wormwood tincture is sold in pharmacies and veterinary clinics. The tincture is based on alcohol and wormwood extract.

Ammonia

Ammonia is considered another effective means of combating parasites. Ammonia is very toxic to fleas, and its incredibly pungent smell simply paralyzes them. Options for using ammonia:

• pour into cracks and crevices;
• add 20 drops of ammonia to 5 liters of water and treat all surfaces (floors, furniture, walls, furniture);
• wash pet bedding in water with a couple of drops of ammonia.

All procedures using ammonia must be carried out wearing a protective mask and in the absence of children and animals.

Essential oils

When turning to essential oils for help, you need to remember that cosmetics will not destroy parasites. They will only create an uncomfortable environment for the parasites and, perhaps, they will leave the room. The use of essential oils is more suitable for preventing insect infestation in your home.

Essential oils from these herbs have shown greater effectiveness compared to others:

• Lavender. Successfully expels parasites. Lavender should not be used in a home where people with low blood pressure live.
• Sagebrush. Classic flea repellent.
• Melissa. Paralyzes the nervous system of parasites. Owners spray their dogs with lemon balm before going into the forest to protect them from parasites.
• Carnation. Clove oil contains eugenol. It has a pungent odor that can drive away not only fleas, but also cats.

Brewer's yeast with garlic

Another incredibly fragrant product that is destructive to fleas. Many centuries ago it was noticed that parasites cannot stand the smell of garlic and yeast. Garlic and yeast are mixed in a ratio of ten to one. In large quantities, garlic is poisonous to pets, so they should be taken to a safe place during treatment.

The product is prepared as follows:

• chop the garlic cloves;
• add brewer's yeast to the garlic pulp;
• spread the mixture in places where pets often walk;
• wait a day;
• Remove the dry mixture with a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner.

Borax, botanical dust

Borax is a salt of weak boric acid that appears as a dust of colorless or gray crystals. Borax is considered a safe cleaning agent. For it to cause harm, a huge dose must enter the human or animal body.

Brown is sprinkled on areas where fleas may be found, especially on the area where the dog sleeps.

Botanical dust is an effective antiseptic substance. It is sprinkled on carpets, under the mattress, and the fleas themselves carry it to hard-to-reach places, after which the parasites die.

Kerosene

Kerosene is a classic remedy for fighting flea infestations. Its effectiveness has been known since the invention of this substance. For parasites, the strong, persistent smell of kerosene, which is used to treat carpets and floors in the house, is so unbearable that they leave their homes in a matter of hours.

When working with kerosene, you should adhere to the following safety precautions:

• do not use near fire;
• do not smoke during processing;
• After 24 hours, rinse the treated surfaces with water;
• leave the house for the duration of the remedy;
• Do not use kerosene on animals or people.

What to do if fleas appear again

Let's imagine the situation. More than 3 days have passed after the baiting, and you continue to observe live fleas, which have not changed their behavior since the beginning of treatment. This effect is 100% due to their increased chemical resistance.

Some insects may inherit from their ancestors “immunity” to one or more classes of insecticides. Such “mutants” can be destroyed by a drug from a group that has not been used before, or at least for a long time. In a good way, the new composition should include active ingredients to which fleas are not sensitive.

If you want to get rid of earthen fleas forever, poison the insects after 2-3 weeks with the same product you used the first time. But keep in mind that this will “finish off” the remaining number only if a few individuals survive after the first treatment. If there is no effect, treat the room with a drug from a different chemical group.

However, resistance is far from the only reason for failure.

There are no drugs approved for everyday use on the Russian market .

For example, it is known which products quickly destroy adult fleas, but they have little effect on larvae. The latter are effectively controlled by growth regulators belonging to a separate class of insecticides. But they do not affect adults. As a result, the population quickly recovers.

The ideal solution would be a product containing both an FOS or pyrethroid component and a growth regulator. But there are only a few liquid pesticides with this composition, and there are none at all approved for use at home. Possible solutions to this situation are to use several drugs in a tank mixture, which some pest control services include in their strategies, or to re-treat with a “larval” class drug.

Thus, if the services of a pest control service are not yet your option, do not despair. You can solve this problem on your own, using one cunning method, which, nevertheless, is available to everyone at home. The secret is this: combine a liquid poison, which “squashes” adult fleas, with boric acid powder, which kills the larvae, or diatomaceous earth, which dries them out. Let's take a closer look at these tools.

How to check the result and create a “barrier”

Place 20x30cm sticky white sheets (you can put glue on them) again in the same areas of suspected or actual flea activity. We have already written about this method above. Some people use a water trap for control.

If, according to the results of the check, there are a lot of fleas, repeat the treatment with the same or a different drug. If there are practically no fleas left, or you find single individuals, use the fixing method of “barrier” treatment.

The action of the “barrier” is aimed at the main part of the population – eggs, larvae and pupae. The essence of the method is to sprinkle a mixture of dry natural insecticide over the carpet. We recommend the following powders for this:

1. Pyrethrum . You can either look for it in a pharmacy or order the Eco Absolut Chamomile product in an online store, packaged in a plastic doypack. The product as an insecticide is slightly toxic and, therefore, ineffective. But it is quite suitable as an adjunct to deter fleas.

2. Boric acid , disinfectant powder. Regular disinfectant powder, packaged in 10 gram bags, is sold at the pharmacy. Entomologists have proven that boric acid powder does not cause resistance in insects due to its specific mechanism of action. It also has a lethal effect on the most resistant stages of fleas - the worm-like larvae.

3. Diatomite . Can be purchased in the form of finished raw materials intended for food, gardening or cosmetic purposes. Or produced specifically to combat insects. Such products include professional preparations “Ecokiller” and “Hector”. All of them are designed for a sorbing effect, drying flea larvae and pupae, drawing moisture out of them.

Mixtures show a more stable barrier result:

1. Dry mixture of pyrethrum powder with boric acid (you can prepare it yourself)
2. A mixture of diatomite with boric acid powder. You can “make it” with your own hands, or buy it ready-made in such a product as “Hector for cockroaches”. This drug copes with the residual number of fleas no worse than with cockroaches.

Next, leave the “powder barrier” for a day, then vacuum it up. Repeat the procedure 1-3 times throughout the month - this will systematically destroy the eggs and emerging larvae.

Professional pest control

If you have not been able to cope with the parasites on your own, then you should contact a service whose professional activity is specifically aimed at combating fleas, bedbugs and other harmful insects.

Exterminators treat the premises with agents of toxicity classes 3 and 4, which are not sold in stores. They work in special protective suits, glasses, respirators, and use spray generators (fog generators) for their work.

Tips and important points

1. There are no baits for fleas, since they drink blood. Therefore, most often only sprays/aerosols, powders/suspensions are used, which can penetrate the body of parasites.
2. Larvae can feed on insecticides, so it is much more effective to use dusts to kill them.
3. It is worth choosing not one drug, but several at once - this will make the fight more effective.
4. Pyrethroids or organophosphates can be used as the main substance in the preparations. The second substances act quickly on insects, but the effect cannot last as long as in the case of pyrethroids.
5. Powders are most often poured where they can remain for as long as possible. It is much more reasonable to poison insects in basements with them.

Choosing a drug!

Always follow this procedure: study the label of the drug, find out the active substance used in it, study its properties, and only then start poisoning fleas.

Conclusion

With these simple methods you can quickly get rid of fleas in your apartment. Traditional methods have been time-tested, but you should resort to them only in case of prevention. It is much easier to purchase a special product that will help you get rid of this unpleasant problem as quickly and permanently as possible.

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Chemicals

In their work, exterminators use chemicals:

• Xulate C25;
• Fendon;
• Eslandez;
• Avefors.

Insecticidal powder

Powder with an insecticide kills not only adults, but also larvae, and this is especially important when ridding a home of parasites. The powder penetrates into small cracks, between carpet fibers and other places where females lay eggs. The Russian insecticide Phenaxin has gained popularity among the population. It is non-toxic, economical, easy to use and quite effective.

Aerosol

Substances based on organic phosphorus are considered more effective. Aerosols are able to penetrate hard-to-reach places, but they are powerless where the number of fleas is too large.

Carrying out wet treatment with insecticide

Wet treatment with an insecticide is carried out as a preparatory measure before carrying out pest control.

Flea sprays

Dichlorvos and Karbofos are already outdated, but successfully continue their fight against parasites. Karbofos contains dust powder, so you need to work with it strictly wearing gloves. Aerosol Raptor based on tetramethrin and cypermethrin is completely safe for humans. Once in the body, these substances are broken down by enzymes without causing harm.

Solutions against parasites

Liquid solutions look like small capsules with concentrated poison inside. They must be diluted in water and wet cleaned with this product.

Preventive measures against re-infection

• Before going to the basement, put on socks and closed shoes. Before going on a hike, the animal and legs can be treated with sprays containing a high content of DEET.
• Put flea collars on your dogs and periodically treat your pets with pest control products.
• Clean monthly using detergents.
• Place bags of fragrant herbs around the house: thyme, tansy, wormwood.
• Exterminate rats, mice and bats.
• Try to keep your house clean.
• In the interior, it is better to avoid excessive carpets and fleecy coverings, as they are more difficult to process.

How to get rid of earthen fleas: rules

All products used to combat fleas have a strong pungent odor, are toxic, poisonous, and often flammable. When working with them, precautions should be taken. Especially if there are children or pets in the house.

Preparing the premises for disinfestation

Before you begin pest control, you need to prepare the room. Parasites are afraid of cleanliness, so you need to clean thoroughly, throw out trash, remove dirt, vacuum carpets, wipe dust on all surfaces, including cabinet tops and chandelier shades, which are rarely reached by a damp cloth.

How to remove fleas from the house if you have children?

The products used for disinfestation are dangerous for people. Therefore, it is advisable to leave the room in which the treatment is carried out for a couple of days. This is especially true for children. In addition, all toxic substances must be stored out of the reach of children.

How to treat pets

A flea infestation in a cat or dog is easy to spot. The pet becomes restless, constantly itches, and bite and scratch marks are visible under the fur. You need to treat the entire coat, spreading it with your fingers so that the product gets under the base of the hairs.

Natural, safe products are used to treat pets. For example, wormwood, tansy, eucalyptus. The solution is applied to the withers and the entire coat is sprayed.

It is important to ensure that the solution does not get into your pet’s mouth. After bathing with flea treatment, you can treat the fur with tar soap. To prevent infection, you should put an anti-flea collar on your pet, and also periodically drip drops onto the withers to repel parasites.

Reviews

Anna Petrovna, 37 years old, Perm

“One day there were fleas in our apartment. Only me was bitten; fortunately, my husband and children did not have any marks, and nothing itched. But we immediately thought about how to remove it, since I was pregnant then - that is, chemicals could not be used. My mother-in-law helped - she collected wormwood near her house. One bunch was placed directly in the sofa drawer, only three days - no bites. Therefore, I recommend wormwood, and you need to put it where the fleas were most noticed.”

Oleg Anatolyevich, 26 years old, Moscow

“It's quite difficult to get rid of these parasites! And especially - to block their access to the house. That's why. If the problem is large-scale, and even in an apartment building, then it is best to solve it together with your neighbors! It will be cheaper and faster”

Safety precautions when removing fleas

All antiparasitic agents are toxic, so when working with them you need to wear a respiratory mask and gloves. Kerosene and turpentine are flammable and should be used strictly away from fire.

If there are children or pregnant women in the house

Pregnant women and small children may be seriously harmed if they are in the pest control area. Therefore, it is better for them to leave the premises for a couple of days to avoid respiratory poisoning and skin burns.

If there are animals in the house

If pets are infested with fleas, they should be taken to a veterinarian for treatment. During this time, all places in the house where the animal was should be treated. This can be done using folk or chemical means.

Reviews about flea control

Study the reviews of those people who have already seen from their own experience the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of various recipes.

• Valentina: Butox from the veterinary pharmacy helped me. True, it smelled terrible, but I saw the effect after just 1 treatment. You need to dilute 1 ml per liter of water, and wipe everything you can.
• Svetlana: I used dichlorvos. He helped, but not for long. A friend recommended the product “Bars” for animals. After the procedure, thank God, everything disappeared.
• Irina: I used pine needle shavings. The aroma in the house is incredible, it’s pleasant to breathe. It may not look exactly neat, but it doesn’t matter. Now the needles have migrated into the bags as an aromatic herb.

How did you deal with uninvited guests? Share your experience with readers in the comments.

Preventing the appearance of fleas in the house

To avoid “unexpected guests” in the form of fleas, cockroaches and other unpleasant creatures, you need to keep your home clean, constantly clean and ventilate.

Make small brooms from wormwood, lavender, and tansy and place them inside the house. They serve not only as a flea repeller, but also decorate the interior and saturate it with the pleasant aromas of a fresh meadow.

It is important to remember one thing - you need to treat the entire room, and not just the part where the fleas were found. Any untreated centimeter is a chance for parasites to escape. When processing, you need to take precautions; children and pregnant women are better off leaving the house for at least a day. To prevent earth fleas from returning, it is important to keep your home clean.

Preparing the premises

An important condition for achieving a good result is careful preparation of the room for processing. All unnecessary old things and garbage should be thrown away. It is advisable to vacuum the floor. It is recommended to knock out carpets. In addition, be sure to treat all surfaces with soapy water.

Furniture should be immediately coated with special agents that repel parasites. Products must be refrigerated during disinfection to prevent chemicals from coming into contact with them. After this, you should close all windows tightly and begin processing the room.