At the Adams county extension office we have been receiving several calls about one specific issue that needs addressing. Your home, lawn and pets all provide an excellent habitat for fleas. A few weeks ago I mentioned some basic flea control advice and from the calls received, it seems many Natchez and local citizens have problems in this area so let’s review this topic again.

Q. How do I control fleas in my house?

When you treat inside your home there are two stages of fleas you are attempting to control, the adult and the immature flea. Only adult fleas are found on pets. Immature fleas lie in carpets, cracks and other dark humid areas where they eat dander and other organic accumulations found in carpets and on flooring, which is a good reason to vacuum more often if you have pets in the house. If pets are allowed to rest on furniture, keep in mind that immature fleas can occur on and under seat cushions and in other cracks and crevices within the furniture. When using insecticide sprays to treat established indoor flea infestations it is important to target both the adult and immature stages.

There are many products labeled for indoor control of adult fleas with active ingredients such as: permethrin, deltamethrin or pyrethrins examples are Venom X-Terminate, Suspend, or Raid Flea Killer. These products have effectiveness against immature fleas, however flea larvae are difficult to control. Control of immature fleas is best when an insect growth regulator product such as methoprene or nylar is used. IGR products work by disrupting the growth of immature fleas, causing them to die before they reach adulthood, IGR’s they will not control adult fleas. It is best to apply a treatment containing both an adult flea control product and an IGR when attempting to control indoor flea infestations. An example is Enforcer Flea Fogger XX or Zodiac FleaTrol Fogger. Some product work faster than others, however there are many other products that control fleas that have the same active ingredients, Just be sure to read the label, and follow directions.

Q. What is the best way to control fleas on my dog?

If your pet has constant flea problems instead of me trying to explain solutions or say what research says, it is best to simply go see your vet. Veterinarians today have excellent flea control products that eliminate fleas effectively, quickly, and long lasting.

Q. How do I keep fleas out of my yard?

In order to treat your yard it is important to treat all areas where fleas may live, the highest concentrated areas are resting places. These places are usually not in the middle of the lawn; it is under bushes, in the shade, under porches, and other humid shady places. These are the places you must spray in additional to your yard to get maximum results. By treating these areas properly you can achieve successful control. Some products good for controlling outdoors include; diazinon, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, or permethrin. However be sure to read the label for directions, safety precautions, and application rates. For indoor or outdoor control there are numerous local pest control services you can also call for help if desired.

Fleas can become a major pest, but by using recommended products, proper application, and preventative practices, controlling this problem is achievable, practical and effective.

David Carter is the driector of the Adams County extenxion service. He can be contacted at 601-445-8201.