To be successful, natural flea control involves eliminating fleas from your dog and controlling the flea life cycle in your living environment. Dogs and cats share the same fleas. Fleas on the couch, carpet, and even hardwood floors need to be eliminated. It’s important that all pets have a flea control like Wondercide EVOLV. Treating your pet for fleas and ticks has never been easier. With Wondercide, you can also treat the source of the problem, not the symptom. Fleas on your pet are a symptom of fleas in your living environment, indside and outside your home.
When it comes to environmental control, we must first understand the 4 stages of the flea life cycle.
1. Flea eggs are white and about 0.5 mm (1/32”) in length. Eggs are laid by the adult flea after taking a blood meal. The eggs are laid on the dog’s skin and in the environment where their life cycle continues. Flea eggs represent approximately 50% of the total flea population. Eggs may hatch in as little as 14 to 28 days, depending on environmental conditions. High humidity and temperature are perfect hatching conditions.
2. Flea larvae are about 2-5 mm (1/8 to ¼”) in length. They feed on organic debris found in their environment and on adult flea feces. They dislike strong light and move deep into carpet fibers or under furniture, grass, branches, leaves, soil, etc. Flea larvae prefer warm, dark and moist areas. Outdoor larval development typically occurs in shaded, moist areas where pets with fleas spend time. Our homes, which most of use keep climate-controlled, offer an ideal environment for the flea life cycle to thrive.
3. Flea pupae produce a protective silk like cocoon. It quickly becomes coated with grime and debris, which acts as camouflage. With warmth and humidity, pupae become adult fleas in 5-10 days. The adults emerge from the cocoon when stimulated by physical pressure, carbon dioxide or heat. Unless they are able to feed, fleas can only exist for a few days once they emerge from the cocoon. Pre-emerged adult fleas can survive up to 9 months. During this time they are resistant to most insecticides applied to the environment. Wondercide is the exception because it eliminates the entire life cycle and other pesticides don’t. This is important to understand because adult fleas will eventually emerge into the environment months after you apply traditional or synthetic insecticides in your home.
4. Unlike the larvae, the emerged adult flea is attracted to light and comes to the surface to find a passing host to feed upon. Two days after the first blood meal, female fleas begin egg production.
In normal circumstances the adult female will live up to three weeks, laying up to 40 eggs per day. The entire life cycle, from egg to adult flea can be completed in 14-28 days depending on the environment and conditions.
