They'll Take A Bite Out of You AND Your Wallet!	May Pest of the Month FLEAS

BY MOLLIE KECK

This year I believe fleas will be one of the major pests of the summer. The lack of a good freeze this winter, and the lack of water, will bring wildlife closer to our homes, and makes for a bad combination for humans and our pets.

Fleas are small jumping insects that prefer to live on the bodies of mammals, and will feed on humans if given the chance. They are bloodsuckers, and the result of their feeding will produce an itchy welt. Flea bites are most common on the ankles and lower calves, but if they are found in the bed, they can feed on any part of the human body that emits a large amount of heat. The larvae of fleas are small (less than ¼ inch), legless, whitish maggot-like worms. They are found in the carpet and bedding of animals.

To treat for insects in the home, the best control is to vacuum rugs and carpets constantly. Vacuuming will remove eggs, larvae and pupae in the carpet and furniture upholstery. Make sure to wrap the vacuum cleaner bag in plastic and throw it out to prevent the fleas from reentering the home. Focus on areas where pets spend most of their time. Washing the bedding in hot water is also recommended.

Outside you should clean the pet's bedding and remove debris and clutter. Mowing tall grass and weeds will also eliminate hiding places.

There are several products you can use to treat the indoors and outdoors. See the following table for recommended active ingredients. It is best to use contact insecticides in conjunction with insect growth regulators (IGRs). Contact insecticides kill the fleas on contact and IGRs prevent the females from laying more eggs. For best results retreat all areas 10 to 14 days after the first treatment. To learn more about the flea life cycle, please read the Extension publication, "Controlling Fleas" available from http://tcebookstore.org/pubinfo.cfm?pubid=1026.

If you have a pet, you must treat the pet and the area, or you will lose a never ending battle with fleas. If you do not have pets, you must treat the yard and discourage wildlife and strays.

For more information contact IPM Program Specialist and Entomologist, Molly Keck at 210-467-6575 or email at mekeck@ag.tamu.edu

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