This summer, fleas are causing San Antonians major distress. Wet weather has made a perfect breeding ground for fleas. The most common flea is the cat flea which uses mammals as hosts. If you do not have pets but have fleas, you have some animal living in your walls, attic, or under the house, etc.

For control of fleas indoors, constant vacuuming at least once a day will drastically reduce the flea population. If the vacuum cleaner has a bag, remove the bag after each use and throw it away outside. If it is a bagless vacuum cleaner, empty the vacuum into a plastic bag, tie tightly and throw it away outside. Otherwise, the fleas will just jump back out of the bag and into the house again. Vacuum everywhere pets rest-under beds, on couches and chairs, and around bedding.

For products to use indoors see the table below.

Outdoors, fleas like to rest in shady areas and areas with brush, weeds, tall grass, and other foliage. Focus on these areas when you treat. Sprays and granules generally work better than dusts outdoors. Treat when rain isn't in the forecast, and remove pets from the area until all the pesticide has been applied.

Whether you treat indoors, outdoors, or both, follow up with a second treatment 10-14 days later. Pesticides only kill larvae and adults. A second treatment will control the eggs that hatch and adults that emerge from the pupal stage after the first treatment.

In general, products that contain an insect growth regulator (IGR) may provide a longer residual. IGRs do not kill fleas; they prevent the females from laying viable eggs. IGRs in combination with contact insecticides are good options. IGRs for fleas include methoprene and pyriproxifen.

Common, effective household insecticides for control of fleas

Active Ingredient (trade names)	Formulation	Area of use
Carbaryl	Spray, dust	Outdoor, pet treatment
d-limonene	Spray, shampoo	Indoor, pet treatment
Diatomaceous earth	Dust	Pet bedding
Malation	Spray, dust	Outdoor
Fipronil (Frontline)	Spot on, spray, granule	Pet treatment, outdoor
Methoprene * (Precor, Ovitrol, Petcor, vIGREn)	Spray, wipe-on, collar	IGR indoor, pet treatment
Propoxur (Baygon)	Spray, dip, collar	Outdoor, indoor, pet treatment
Pyrethrins	Spray, shampoo, dip	Indoor, pet treatment
Pyriproxifen * (Archer, Nylar, Bio Spot)	Spray, shampoo, dip, spot-on	IGR outdoor, indoor, pet treatment
*Indicates insect growth regulators. This type of product will prevent females from laying viable eggs. For best results look for a product containing both contact insecticides and an insect growth regulator, or use two types of products in conjunction. Do not mix products together - use separately.

 

For more information contact IPM Program Specialist and Entomologist, Molly Keck:
mekeck@ag.tamu.edu
3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212
210/467-6575