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CONTROLLING

FLEAS

HOME AND GARDEN BULLETIN NO. 121

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CONTROLLING FLEAS

Prepared by Entomology Research Division, Agricultural Research Service

Fleas often breed in large num- bers where pets and livestock are kept. They spread through homes, buildings, and yards. They attack pets, livestock, poul- try, and people.

Pets infested with fleas scratch and bite themselves almost con- stantly. Their coats become soiled and roughened, and their skin becomes irritated. Domestic animals are painfully annoyed by fleas, and young chickens and other poultry are sometimes killed by heavy in- festations. You can control fleas by apply- ing proper insecticides.

COMMON KINDS

Many kinds of fleas attack ani- mals and people. The dog flea ^ and the cat flea ^ are the most widespread and abundant. Each kind attacks dogs and cats. The human flea,^ a severe pest in many areas, lives on numerous animals. It is often found on hogs, and it breeds in hog houses. It also lives on dogs, cats, goats, and domestic rats and on wild animals such as skunks, coyotes, and badgers. It most often is

1 Ctenocephalides canis.

• C. felis. ^ Pulex irritans.

found 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. All of these fleas can bite people.

DEVELOPMENT

Fleas pass through four stages of development— egg, larva (maggot), pupa, and adult. The female adult lays eggs on an animal or in its sleeping place. The eggs fall off the animal and, within a few days, hatch into larvae. The larvae are fully grown in about 2 weeks; then they spin tiny cocoons in which they change into pupae. The pupae change into adults in about 1 week and emerge from the cocoons. Adult fleas can live several weeks without food. This is why owners of dogs or cats sometimes return from vacation to find their homes overrun with fleas, even ' Echidnophaga gallinácea. ' Xenopsylla cheopis.

N- Rubbing powder into dog's hair.

under control. (Treat the animals only as often as suggested on the container label.) If the animal is confined to an area free of fleas, one treatment usually is enough. Fleas begin to leave the animal within a few minutes after a pyrethrum powder is applied, but they are only paralyzed and may recover. Treat the animal out- doors or in an enclosure where the paralyzed fleas can be swept up and destroyed.

Goats and Hogs Human fleas often are a prob- lem on goats and hogs. An in- secticide spray or powder will control the fleas, and should be applied to the animals and their quarters. Powders.—Use DDT, lindane, malathion, or methoxychlor in the strengths recommended for dogs. Use enough powder to treat the animals thoroughly. Sprays.—Wet the animals thoroughly with an emulsion or a wettable-powder suspension that contains 0.5 percent of DDT,

methoxychlor, or malathion, or 0.05 percent of lindane. Prepare sprays by mixing an emulsifiable concentrate or wettable powder with water (see chart). Do not use DDT, lindane, malathion, and methoxychlor on milk goats. If milk goats are in- fested with fleas, use rotenone or pyrethrum powders; follow the manufacturer's directions.

Chickens Sticktight fleas may be a prob- lem on chickens. Spray infested chickens with a 0.5-percent mala- thion spray (see chart) or dust them with 4- or 5-percent mala- thion dust.

Fleas in Animal Quarters and Yards To destroy fleas in barns and other animal quarters, in yards and lawns, and under houses, spray or dust with the insecti- cides recommended under "Fleas

N- Dusting under doghouse for control of fleas.

GUIDE FOR MIXING SPRAYS

Insecticides and some of the forms in wfiich they may be purchased

DDT or Methoxychlor 50-percent wettable powder 25-percent emulsifiable concentrate _ Lindane or Malathion 25-percent wettable powder

20-percent emulsifiable concentrate _

57-percent emulsifiable concentrate _

Ronnel 24-percent emulsifiable concentrate _

Percentage of insecticide desired in spray

Approximate amount of purchased product to mix with 5 gallons of water

6 ounces. 1 pint.

1 tablespoonful. 1 ounce. 1 2 ounces. 1 V4 tablespoonfuls. 2 V2 tablespoonfuls. 6 ounces.

1 % pints.

on Animals" or apply a 1-percent ronnel spray (see chart). If ani- mal quarters or pens are littered, remove the litter before spraying or dusting. Spraying.—Apply spray at the rate of 2 gallons to 1,000 square feet (but apply 1 gallon of 1-per- cent ronnel). Use a garden-type compressed-air sprayer or small power sprayer. Dusting.—Apply malathion dust at the rate of 1 pound per 40 square feet in poultry quar- ters. Apply 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet in dog kennels or goat or hog quarters. Apply DDT, lindane, and me- thoxychlor dust at 1 pound per 1,000 square feet, but only in dog, goat (except milk goat), and hog quarters. Dusts often can be blown under low buildings where spraying would be difficult.

Fleas in Homes Sprays that contain DDT, methoxychlor, malathion, pyre-

thrum, or ronnel will destroy fleas in homes. Apply a 5-percent DDT or methoxychlor spray or 2-percent malathion spray to floors and baseboards and to walls to a height of about 1 foot. Apply a light mist to upholstering, rugs, and other fabrics; a heavy spray may stain fabrics. Before spray- ing, clean rooms and upholstered furniture with a vacuum cleaner. Prepared household sprays that contain pyrethrum may be ap- plied in the same manner. Since these sprays usually contain low concentrations of insecticide, the treatment may have to be re- peated in 7 to 10 days. Apply pyrethrum sprays at the rate of about 1 quart to 250 square feet. Use a household hand sprayer designed for treating surfaces. Apply a fine-mist spray; a heavy spray may stain fabrics. If you apply a ronnel spray, see that it is labeled for home use and follow instructions on the label.