Where are these fleas coming from?

Question

We live in a duplex, upstairs, we have NO pets, and my fiance noticed small bites all over him, a few days later I was sitting on the floor with my son and I noticed he a flea on his leg, I didnt think it was a big deal because I only saw one, but yesterday I noticed they were all in the carpet! Someone gave us a couch about a month ago but we shampooed it before it even came in our home... the people downstairs do have a cat. So where do you think these fleas are coming from? the couch or downstairs? I havent noticed any at all today, and I noticed when I was vaccuming that alot of them were dead, will they just die out because we dont have any animals or will I need to use some kind of flea killer... I have a 6 month old baby, so what woud you suggest? It has to be something safe for him because he plays in the living room, and it seems like thats the only place that the fleas are.

Answer 1

I would use a premises spray of one of the IGRs, probably Nylar (pyriproxifen).  It's non-toxic to humans unless you bathe in it or drink a couple of vats of it <g> -- and the way it works is to stop juvenile fleas from growing up into adult, biting fleas, thus breaking the reproductive cycle of the flea.  There are formulations of Nylar that basically are an ounce of the IGR that you mix with a gallon of water, and then spray on the carpets and furniture and let dry.  Lasts for about 6-7 months. There are also formulations with quick acting pesticides, which I am loathe to use unless I really, really have to.

Yes, chances are the fleas came with the couch... shampoo does not stop flea eggs from hatching.

Because you've got an infant, I would not use a quick kill pesticide like one of the pyrethroids, so if you can put up with a few more flea bites till the current adults die off and the IGR kicks in, I'd do it that way.

In the meantime, vacuum like crazy and toss the vacuum bags immediately.  It does help.

One of the places I've ordered pyriproxifen from:

http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/Pe...

I usually just buy it at the local farm store.

More information:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG132

http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/animal_own...

Answer 2

You might be getting them on your clothes when you go out side, especially if there is an animal around. Once one is in your home they can multiply quickly, especially if you don't have an animal that goes out side. They get thier meals from you instead of the animal, and they stay in your home since there is no animal to carry them out, or be treated with flea control that would kill them. They could have come from the couch to. Soap and water alone won't kill the fleas, and even if the water was heated enough to kill them, which I doubt, The apolstery cleaner only cleans the very surface of the couch.

If you can find borax in the store, It is a laundry and cleaning detergant, It's a dry powder soap in a box. Sprinkle it all over your house even on the couch. Leave it for at least a few hours. You could put it down before you go to sleep and leave it over night. In the morning vacume it all up, and throw out the vacum bag, in a garbage outside of your house. The soap works like the other guy said the salt does, It dries them out. As long as your child doesn't eat the soap, it is not harmful. I put it down in my house when my son was a toddler, and I used it in my grandmothers house once, they had a stray cat that had babies under the house. I know this works.

Edit: You might want to repeat about a week later, just in case there were any eggs you didn't get the first time. I don't think it's nessesary but I usually do it just to make sure.

Answer 3

sounds like its the couch..you could sprinkle it with salt..it would dry em out..also a natural earth,,,starts with a di..dang its on 1800pet meds site all natural and wont hurt people...good luck

Answer 4

Bug bomb, stay out of the house for a day when you do it, then vac the whole area. Do it again 3 weeks later. The couch is possibly the culprit, but now they are in the rug also.  Warn your neighbors. Read the instructions on the bug bomb.

Answer 5

Once you have one flea you'll have a whole house full. Ask a vet. what would be the best for you to use with your baby. Any one can pick a flea up and bring it home. they live in grass areas and of course they can jump from one person to another. you must kill the eggs to get rid of  the fleas. Good luck!!!