PLEAS: 
how to control them 
COMMON KINDS 
Several kinds of fleas attack animals and people in the 
United States. 
The dog flea? and the cat flea * are the most widespread 
and abundant. Dog and cat fleas look alike. Each kind 
attacks either dogs or cats. 
The human flea® is a severe pest in many areas. It 
may live on many different animals. It is often found 
on hogs, and it breeds in the litter of hog houses. It also 
lives on dogs, cats, goats. and domestic rats. and on wild 
animals such as skunks, coyotes, and badgers. It occurs 
most frequently in the Mississippi Valley. in Texas, and 
westward to the Pacific Coast. 
The sticktight flea* infests poultry and occasionally 
annoys people and pets in the Southern States. 
Several species of rat fleas, particularly the oriental rat 
flea,° infest houses and buildings that harbor rats, and 
may bite man. 
DEVELOPMENT 
All fleas require the blood of animals or birds in order 
to reproduce. Some feed on certain kinds of animals or 
birds, and others on almost any warm-blooded animal. 
Fleas pass through four stages of development—adult, 
egg. larva (or maggot), and pupa. The females of most 
species lay eggs while they are on animals or birds. The 
eggs drop to the ground, floor, or animal bedding, where 
they hatch in a few days into larvae. The larvae, which 
feed on organic matter, become full grown in about 2 
weeks. They spin tiny cocoons in which they change into 
pupae. In about 1 week the pupae change into adults, 
and the adults emerge from the cocoons. 
Adult fleas can live several weeks without food. This 
fact explains why people who own dogs or cats sometimes 
find their homes overrun with fleas when they return 
from a vacation, even though no adult fleas were in the 
homes when the people left them. 
Contrary to a belief sometimes held, successive genera- 
tions of fleas do not develop and live in sand without feed- 
ing on animals. Several kinds of fleas often develop in 
sandy areas, and newly emerged adults may live there 
until a suitable host animal comes along. 
z Ctenocephalides canis. * Echidnophaga gallinacea. 
_C. felis. ° Xenopsylla cheopis. 
~ Pulex irritans. 
CONTROL WITH INSECTICIDES 
The kind of insecticide and formulation to use depends 
on the type of host animal and on whether an infestation 
is inside a home or outside. Recommendations for de- 
stroying fleas in a home differ from those for destroying 
fleas in other places, such as a barn. Control of fleas on 
animals is necessary to prevent infestations in homes, 
animal quarters, and yards. 
FLEAS ON ANIMALS 
Dogs and Cats 
Commercial powders containing rotenone or pyrethrum 
will control fleas on dogs and cats. Other powders— 
DDT. lindane, and chlordane—are also effective on dogs 
but are not recommended for pups under 2 months old 
or for cats. Methoxychlor powder may be used on pups 
and cats. 
Apply the powder with a shaker-type dispenser, a puff 
duster. or any garden-type hand duster. 
Use about 1 tablespoonful of powder on an average- 
size short-haired dog, such as a fox terrier. Reduce or 
increase this amount according to the size of the animal 
and the length and thickness of the hair. In applying 
powder, pay particular attention to the back, the neck. and 
the top of the head. Rub the powder thoroughly into the 
hair. 
Use insecticides on animals carefully. Follow the 
recommendations on the container. 
Don’t be alarmed if the animal shows discomfort for a 
few minuies after the application. DDT and other in- 
secticides often cause increased activity by the fleas in 
their last moments of life. 
If the animal has free run, treatments may have to be 
made weekly in order to keep fleas under control. If the 
Applying powder to dog for control of fleas. 
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