Fleas in House

Archive for February, 2011

There people who wonder if it is possible for fleas to make it up to your head and live on human hair. There hundreds of different species of these critters that are out there. However, of all the many species, there is only one that can actually live on human blood. Nevertheless, the other species can hop on and just sample what our blood tastes like and they definitely can live on human hair.

Pulex Irritans

Pulex Irritans is the only species that can live on human hair and feed on human blood. It is also important to note that this little parasite does not only feed on human blood. In fact, it can and does have a truly wide host spectrum. They feed on a lot of different mammals as well as birds. They can be found on your pets and even animals in captivity.

Origin

Fleas have been around for millions of years. There is even evidence of these parasites fossilized within an ancient piece of amber. One of the oldest species of these pesky little bugs has wings but most of the ones we have today can only hop on to their victims. It is believed that these little creatures once only lived on decaying plants and tree sap. At one point in time they switched from eating plant matter to feeding on warm blooded animals and then on humans.

Identification

It would be a bit of a challenge to identify the fleas that live on human hair. The ones that live on your head looks pretty much the same as other species. However, if you care to look, you can get a magnifying lens and check the number of bristles in their mouths. The ones that live on your head have fewer bristles compared to other breeds. Well, most people won’t care since they really do look quite alike each other.

Flea Treatment

There is really no way to flea proof the human hair. There is really nothing that you can put on your head to keep them out. They usually just find a way to hop on. The best advice that anyone can give would be to go to your doctor and come up with a personalized treatment.

Your doctor can advise you on which products or medication you can use. Expect to receive information and tips on how to get rid of them from your house as well. The treatment should also include adult, larvae, and egg removal. Remember that you also need to clear them from your hair and your environment to get rid of the infestation.

For their intelligence and loyalty, Man’s best friend has been pampered with all the love and attention that humankind can possibly give. However, some little unwanted bugs on dogs have also come along for a free ride and a free meal as well. These tiny blood sucking creatures that reproduce, thrive, and feed off your loyal pet are prevalent during spring and summer when outdoor moisture and heat are at their peak pestering your dog with bites and spreading diseases in the process. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are the most common pesky bugs on dogs whose quest for survival could make your dog’s life miserable and may even endanger its own life.

Fleas top the list of the most common bugs on dogs that hungrily come out of their pupae in late spring and immediately high jumps to the nearest dog to partake of their first free blood meal. Hiding and scurrying through the forest of dog fur, these pinhead-sized fleas reproduce quickly in just a matter of days. Shortly after coming out of their pupae, fleas mate and lay eggs within three days – and, during their 50-day life span, fleas can lay as much as 2000 eggs. While fleas lay their eggs on their host, the eggs may fall on the ground, the floor or carpet of your house, sofa or bed and hatch within two to five days. To complete their reproductive cycle, fleas need dog or cat blood. But in the absence of an animal host, fleas often gladly settle for human blood. Tapeworm infestation is often the dire consequence of a flea invasion on your best friend’s furry coat.

The second of the most common bugs on dogs is a cousin to the spider. This eight-legged crab-like pest ungratefully infects your dog with some of the most frightening collection of diseases while feasting on the blood of its host. This includes the dreadful Lyme disease that can cause arthritis, heart problems and can cause birth defects on dogs as well as on other mammals such as horses and even people. Tick infestation must be prevented in dogs because these pesky bugs also carry tularemia, encephalitis and the Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

While mosquitoes prefer human blood, they also have a penchant for biting dogs. Although not all mosquitoes are heartworm carriers, there is no telling which ones are infected with the parasite and which ones are not. And, if your pet dog is unfortunate enough to get bitten by even just one mosquito that carries the heartworm larvae, your dog will contract the dreaded heartworm disease. Ironically, heartworm disease is one affliction that is so easy to prevent but too expensive and difficult to cure.

Now that you know the diseases that bugs on dogs could bring to your pet, it is best to consult your veterinarian on how to get rid of these pesky bugs and prevent the diseases that they bring along with their bite.

Using some boric acid tricks, you‘ll be able to rid your home of various pests, from fleas to ants. The tricks involve mixing the boric acid powder with bait.

How to Get Rid of Ants

Mix the boric acid with some mint jelly. Place it in the area the ants frequent. What will happen is that the ants will take the jelly back to their colony. When they eat the jelly, the boric powder will also end up in their system. This will lead to dehydration and death.

In a few days, an entire colony can be wiped out. Aside from jelly, you can also mix boric acid with sugar. Again, the ants will gather it. They will bring the food to the others. You can also use grapes and other sweet fruits. You don’t have to use a lot. A tablespoon of the powder and bait food will be sufficient.

Boric Acid Tricks for Killing Fleas

Fleas are pests that live on dogs and cats. When they multiply they will spread throughout your home. To get rid of the fleas, identify the most prone areas. Likely places are those frequented by your pet. Now get the boric acid as well as some salt. Mix them together in a bowl or spray bottle.

Sprinkle the mixture on the flea infested areas. If the fleas are in the carpet, work the boric acid / salt mix deep in the fibers. The flea eggs are nestled in those parts. Let the powder remain on the carpet for 24 hours. After 24 hours, you can vacuum the carpet. This will kill the fleas and their eggs. If there are some remnants, simply repeat the process.

How to Get Rid of Ticks, Mites and Lice

The method is the same as when killing fleas. Sprinkle the carpeted areas with the powder and leave it there for 24 to 48 hours. Afterwards you vacuum it. Infestations of ticks and mites can be removed in the same manner.

If there are some on clothes, sheets and towels, you can mix the boric acid with hot water. Use this to wash the clothes and fabrics. Wash for at least 10 minutes. This will be enough to kill the parasites and their eggs.

What these simple boric acid tricks show is how versatile the powder is. By combining it with other ingredients, various pests can be eradicated with ease.

Using boric acid on ticks can exterminate the entire colony. The powder works by sticking onto their legs. The powder also causes dehydration. It also poisons their food supply, leading to their death. To use the powder, follow these steps.

Step 1

Move the furniture around so you can sprinkle the powder on the carpeted area. Next, vacuum the carpeted area. This won’t remove all the ticks. But it will get rid of the dirt and grime. This will help the boric acid get rid of the ticks. Don’t forget to remove the cushion from the furniture and vacuum it. The walls have to be cleaned as well.

Step 2

Spray a light layer of boric acid over the carpeted areas. Take note of the areas where your pet sleeps. You should apply more of the boric acid on those spots. The ticks will be abundant there.

Step 3

Using your push broom, brush the acid into the rugs and carpets. To avoid uneven application, brush in a single direction. It will be easier to push the powder into the carpet if you move in a slow manner. Keep pushing until the powder can no longer be seen.

Step 4

If you see ticks on furniture, you can sprinkle a bit of the boric acid there as well. Leave the boric acid on for 24 to 48 hours. After 24 to 48 hours, you can vacuum the boric acid off the carpets and furniture.

Other Information about Using Boric Acid on Ticks

It’s very important that you get the boric acid where the ticks are located. Your goal is to get the ticks to crawl over the substances. When they crawl over it, the powder will penetrate their system and kill them.

Some people also apply boric acid on ticks stuck on animals. The reasoning is that it can work as a disinfectant. It can also heal any wounds left when the tick is removed. However, using too much boric acid may be hazardous. Boric acid may also be toxic on plants, so they need to be used judiciously.

Tips and Warnings

Do not allow children or pets to consume boric acid. To be on the safe side, keep them away from the areas being treated.

After using boric acid on ticks, the threat of infestation will be reduced. What is important is that you apply some type of tick control product on your pet too.

While keeping one’s home clean and tidy may be a deterrent to cockroach infestation, those who have already been infested seem to have no recourse but to rely on highly-toxic chemical solutions to their problem. Of course, this poses as much a hazard to one’s health as it does to that of the pests they wish to exterminate. However, there is a relatively less-toxic method of roach control that involves the use of boric acid.

The house should first be prepared before going for the boric acid. Remove all dishes from the cabinets and drawers, and place all food inside sealed containers. Use mild soapy water in cleaning the cabinets, drawers and counter tops, as well as any darkened area in the kitchen and the bathroom. Trash should be taken out of the house, and give the carpets, the floor, corners and walls a thorough vacuuming.

Cracks and holes found along exterior walls and floorboards should be filled in using foam insulation or caulk, in order to prevent outdoor roaches from getting inside the house. One shouldn’t use glue products in sealing the holes and cracks as roaches are known to occasionally eat glue. While roaches are capable of surviving without food for a long period of time, they cannot live without water, so cut off water access to roaches by drying up damp places where they might be.

Sometimes roaches will keep away from places that have been painted in a light color. So it might be of help to paint the insides of drawers and cabinets, as well as other darkened parts of the house where roaches might tend to go. Avoid using paper in lining cabinet shelves, as roaches might hide under the spaces of the paper.

Once everything is in order, it’s time to use the boric acid powder. It is advised to wear rubber dishwashing gloves in handling the powder. Also wear a dust mask so as not to breathe it in, and avoid ingesting it as well. Gently sprinkle or spread it onto all the areas of the house where roaches may be present, such as the cabinets and drawers, under appliances and furniture, the floors of the kitchen and the bathroom, and the walls of the living room, the bedrooms and the hallway. One may also want to sprinkle some around the house’s foundation. Make sure the powder doesn’t float in the air. Do not apply boric acid in places where the food is kept or where children and pets can easily touch it.

If the roach infestation is severe, leave the house for around 3 days after applying the boric acid; remember to turn off all the lights. When the roaches emerge, they will come into contact with the boric acid on the floors and walls, ingesting it while they eat or while cleaning their antennae and legs using their mouth. On returning home, gently clean up as much of the boric acid powder using a wet rag, then vacuum up the remaining traces of the powder.

Some traces of boric acid may be allowed to remain in the dark areas where roaches may still be hiding, such as under appliances. Then, use mild soap and water to thoroughly clean the house. If any remaining roaches appear, simply use a non-toxic bug spray. Or better yet, use a safe homemade bug spray made up of a soap-and-water mixture in a pump sprayer, as soap can be just as effective in killing roaches as any other brand of bug spray.

Using boric acid on mites is one of the most reliable ways to get rid of these creatures. However, you need to do more than just spray the acid.

Step 1

Prepare the area first. You can do this by vacuuming the house. If there are only a few mites, you can perform selective vacuuming (i.e., in the bedroom only). If there are mites everywhere, it is best if you vacuum the whole house. Pay close attention to carpeted areas. Just like fleas and ticks, the mites hide there too.

Step 2

Move aside any furniture so you can clean the area around it. Move the furniture so you can spray easily. Keep pets and children far from the areas being treated with the powder.

Step 3

When using boric acid on mites, make sure to leave it there for 48 hours. After 48 hours, vacuum the floors and carpets. You need to be thorough when you vacuum; boric acid can be toxic for plants. You must also make sure that pets do not eat it.

Step 4

Check the carpets and flooring. The mites will be gone. If there are a few remnants, wash or steam clean the carpets. Repeat the treatment after a week. This step is done to ascertain that no more mites are left.

Information about Bed Mites

These are parasitic insects that live off human or animal blood. They are not the same as dust mites, which are microscopic in nature. When bitten by bed mites, you will get red itchy sores.

These bites can also be very painful. Most of them are found in beds and sleeping bags. It should be noted that these creatures do not transmit diseases.

Other Uses of Boric Acid

Aside from killing mites, boric acid can also be used on other insects. They are capable of killing fleas, ticks, lice termites, centipedes, ants and cockroaches. For this reason it is included in many insecticides.

Aside from spraying, you can mix boric acid with sugar or flour to get rid of these insects and parasites. Boric acid is very effective because it dehydrates the insects’ bodies, leading to dehydration. However, it isn’t as successful when used on bedbugs because bedbugs don’t have chewing mouth components.

If using boric acid on mites, it is not necessary to apply a very thick layer. Even a light one will be sufficient. If you are going to use a lot of boric acid, perform a thorough vacuuming afterwards.

Using borax or boric acid on lice is not always necessary. The reason is that lice don’t have the same breeding patterns as fleas. But if the lice are all over the bedding, boric acid can be useful.

Step 1

To start with, get the bedding to be washed and shake it off. This will help remove some of the lice as well as dirt and dust.

Step 2

Turn the washing machine on. Configure it so it is at the highest water setting possible. Put in the borax and other detergents you want to add. Commence the washing cycle. Take the bedding and put the hot water in. Wash it in the usual manner. If there are a lot of lice, run the bedding in hot water twice over.

Step 3

Take the bedding out of the washing machine. After you use boric acid on lice, remove the bedding from the washing machine. Put it into the dryer. Set the dryer on the highest setting possible. The time it takes to dry the bedding depends on its size. The bedding quality will also determine how long it takes to dry.

Tips

Make the water as hot as possible. The water and the boric acid will kill the lice and their eggs .The hotter the water is, the faster the lice will die. Don’t wait for the lice to spread. As soon as you see lice in the bedding, clean it with boric acid. Keep repeating if necessary.

Where to Get Boric Acid

Boric acid can be bought as a cleaning product. It is usually known as borax. It is also called orthoboric acid, boracic acid, borate or acidum boricum.

The best place to find boric acid is the pharmacy. Keep in mind that there are many kinds of boric acids. Specify that you want one that can be used for cleaning. You can also buy boric acid in various online stores.

Before you buy, make sure that you know the level of lice infestation. The more lice are present, the more boric acid you will need. When using boric acid, do not inhale it. Keep children and pets away from it. Inhaling the acid can be poisonous, so don’t let children get their hands on it.

As indicated earlier, using boric acid on lice is often not required. But it helps to know how to use them in case the need for it arises.

Using boric acid on fleas can remove these pests as efficiently as other commercially available products. For the treatment to work, several steps have to be taken.

Step 1

Clear the area that you are going to treat. Remove toys, shoes, clothing etc. Clear the areas especially the carpeted areas.

Step 2

Vacuum the carpeted areas in the house. This won’t just remove some fleas, but also take out a lot of dirt and dust. Removing these particles will help the boric acid do its work. Vacuum the walls too. Remove the cushions from the couch and vacuum them.

Step 3

Dust the boric acid over the carpeted areas. Don’t forget to dust the closet floors and under the furniture. Spray the dust over all carpeted areas. But when using boric acid on fleas, sprinkle a bit more in the spots where your pet rests and plays on. That is where most of the fleas will be.

Step 4

Get a push broom. Use it to brush boric acid in the carpet. Make sure to brush in one direction so the powder is spread uniformly. Work the powder deep into the carpets by using a back and forth motion. Keep doing the back and forth motion until the powder is no longer visible.

Step 5

If there are fleas on the furniture, sprinkle the acid over it. Sprinkle lightly; there is no need to use large amounts. You can use a hand brush to work the powder into the furniture. Vacuum any excessive powder off the furniture.

Other Information

Boric is particularly effective at killing the flea larvae. If there are lots of adult fleas, it may take 2 to 6 weeks before any concrete results become apparent.

During this period, it will help if you vacuum the house regularly. After applying boric acid, you can vacuum again after 24 to 38 hours. Make sure that you discard all the vacuum bags you use.

Tips and Warnings

If you have lung problems, wear a face mask when sprinkling the acid. Those with sensitive skin may suffer mild allergies by using it. Do not expose animals and small children to the acid. Never use excessive boric acid on furniture; it may get damage.

The good thing about using boric acid on fleas is that the acid remains active up to a year. But for the best results, you should reapply it on the rugs and carpets to avoid re-infestation.

Using boric acid on dust mites will kill them. But without using the right approach, the dust mites may remain. To get the maximum benefits, follow these steps.

Step 1

Vacuum the furniture and carpeted areas. Move aside furniture and vacuum under those places. This will remove a lot of the dust and dirt stuck in those areas. Set aside any furniture or objects that you don’t want to get any boric acid on.

Step 2

Get your boric acid and apply it on the mite infested area. Sprinkling a light, fine layer will be enough. Note: if you have never used boric acid on the carpet before, apply the acid on a small spot. Assuming there is no discoloration, you can sprinkle it all over the carpet.

Step 3

When applying boric acid on furniture, use very light amounts. If applying on carpets, work the powder deep into the fiber.

Step 4

Leave the boric acid on the materials for at least 24 hours. For severe infestations, it would be a good idea to leave it there for 48 hours. After the time elapses, vacuum the boric acid off the furniture and carpets.

Step 5

When using boric acid on dust mites, be certain to dispose of the vacuum bags correctly. As you vacuum, keep an eye on the contents. When the bag is full, remove it. Take the bag outside and put in the garbage can. Repeat the process for other vacuum bags that you fill up.

Step 6

Make sure you are thorough when vacuuming and cleaning. This will remove most if not all of the dust mites. Repeat the cleaning process after a week or two. This is to ensure that no more dust mites remain.

Other Ways to Get Rid of the Dust Mites

One way is to wash your curtains and linens at 130 F. The hot water will exterminate the dust mites. You can also use a cleansing agent on clothes to get rid of the dust mites.

If there are stuffed animals infested with dust mites, store them in the freezer. It will get rid of the pests. You can also use boric acid on it. But you also need to test it for discoloration effects.

When using boric acid on dust mites, always do a bit of testing first before applying on the whole material. Most of the time though, the acid is very safe to use.

Boric acid has many uses in diverse fields such as science, medicine and industry. In the household, it has been a component in laundry detergents, but it has also found use as a form of pesticide. Compared to most commercial insecticides, it is relatively safe (as long as it is properly used and kept away from children and pets) and it doesn’t cost as much either.

There are two ways of using boric acid in dealing with ants, spiders and cockroaches. The first method is to simply sprinkle some boric acid powder behind appliances where these insects tend to hang out in, such as the refrigerator, the stove, the washing machine or the kitchen sink. The powder should also be sprinkled in other areas such as crevices or cracks where these bugs could be hiding it (but make certain these spots cannot be accessed by children or pets). When the bugs walk over these places, they will be contaminated by the boric acid and eventually die from it. They’ll even carry it over to their nesting places and contaminate their offspring as well.

The second and more elaborate bug-killing solution involves mixing boric acid with sugar in water, then soaking a few balls of cotton into that mixture. The soaked cotton balls are then put on a small dish and then placed either in a corner or inside a cupboard. The bugs would sense the sugar in the cotton balls, ingest it, and eventually be poisoned by the boric acid.

To rid one’s home of flea infestation, simply sprinkle some boric acid powder on the carpet and leave it alone for a day. Do not allow children or pets near the carpet or its vicinity during this time. After waiting for 24 hours, merely vacuum the carpet, be certain to empty the vacuum bags outside the house. To deal with fleas and other bugs outdoors, such as in the garden or on the lawn, one only needs to sprinkle some boric acid on these areas. It is particularly ideal to do this if one isn’t expecting any rainfall for approximately 24 hours. One may also make their own bug spray from a mixture of boric acid, sugar and water to get rid of the bugs ruining their prized plants.

As effective as boric acid is in killing bugs, it isn’t exactly a quick solution. Take note that it may take as long as a couple of weeks before it fully takes effect, so one should exercise some patience and wait for the process to take its natural course. Nonetheless, it only takes a bit of boric acid to take out a significant number of the pest population. So applying it on a fairly regular basis, say once every few months, could ensure one’s home to remain completely bug-free.