Hello again from A.N.T.T.S = A North Texas Termite Specialist. Again don’t let our name fool you we specialize in a forms of pest control treatments in the Dallas & Fort Worth area. With of 28 years of experience we have dealt with every pest problem nature can throw at you. To be a licensed pest control operator we need continuing ed credits each year and for the most part the classes do help with whats new in the market for us to use for certain pest. Which brings me to today’s post for flea control. Last convention we attended there was a lot of focus on bed bugs & fleas. The newest chemicals available were long term residues mixed with IGR’s (Insect growth regulators). These combination’s are the only treatment procedures that have been working. We have always used a growth regulator on flea treatments but now have been using them more on other pest. We here at A.N.T.T.S are preparing for a huge flea season. With all this heat and the early spring rains we are set for a flea attack like we have never seen before. Most people will only notice them if they leave for vacation and upon return when they step into their home they will be swarmed by fleas wanting to suck your blood. Fleas can be one of the toughest pest control problems for even us to handle but to try on your own can be futile. Due to the entomology and biology of the adult dog or cat flea they are tough little buggers to totally get rid of. They have 4 life stages the egg, larvae, pupa and adult.  When you just use store bought products you may kill a few of the adults but it will be useless on the other stages. The pest control products we use have at least a 90 day residual and will last through all the stages plus with the added IGR they should not be able to reproduce effectively. The best thing you can do if you do call out a pest management professional is to prepare, prepare, prepare! The people who do what we ask in the beginning have the best results. You will want to vacuum all floors including hardwoods and then wash all floors. Does help to also vacuum inside couch crevices and any crevices crumbs may fall. You will also want to throw out the vacuum bag or if bag-less then leave open so it can also be treated. You will want to remove all small items such as shoes, toys and pet dishes from the floor. Outside you want grass freshly cut and any debris off the ground and away from the house. It sounds like a lot of work but is a necessary step in total control. After home and yard have been treated you will need to be off both for at least 2-4 hours before returning. You should notice in the first few days that it will seem like they are all gone but can have a second wave from eggs hatching that will reappear for just a little while. After this second wave you should be seeing great results. With our company policy we usually say give it 7-14 days before we can retreat and if you still have a problem there is no-charge to come back. If you live in Keller, Southlake, Grapevine TX or anywhere in the DFW area we can help you through this impending flea influx this summer. Just call 817-366-3130 to get a free estimate. Again as always thanks for visiting us here on our pest control blog. A.N.T.T.S Pest Control.

On July 17, 2011   /   Fleas