FLEAS 

 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 2 are the most widespread 

 and abundant. Dog and cat fleas look alike. Each kind 

 attacks either dogs or cats. 



The human flea 3 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 4 infests poultry and occasionally 

 annovs people and pets in the Southern States. 



Several species of rat fleas, particularly the oriental rat 

 flea, 5 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. 



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 malathion, methox- 

 ychlor. rotenone, or pyrethrum will control fleas on dogs 

 and cats. Other powders — DDT and lindane — are also 

 effective on dogs but are not recommended for pups under 

 2 months old or for cats. 



Apply the powder with a shaker-tvpe dispenser, a puff 

 duster, or any garden-type hand duster. 



T_ se 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 applving 

 powder, pay particular attention to the back, neck, and 

 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 minutes after the 

 application. DDT and other insecticides often cause in- 

 creased 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 animal is confined to an area free of fleas, one treat- 

 ment usually is enough. 



Applying powder to dog for control of fleas. 



Ctenocepha/ides can/'s. 

 2 C. fe/.s. 

 Pulex irrilans. 



1 Echidnophaga gallinocea. 

 " Xenopsy//a cheopis. 



