Phone: 614-292-5274 Fax: 614-292-9783
e-mail: extento@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu
William F. Lyon
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systems approach that combines a wide array of pet management practices with careful monitoring of pests and their natural enemies. Practices and methods often vary among types and among different regions of the country. Some flea strains are resistant to pyrethrum, permethrin, carbaryl and malathion. Manage pests before they reach damaging levels. It is important to realize that insecticides will not work alone for pest control. They should be considered only as supplements, not replacements, for sanitation and sound IPM practices. Complete reliance on pesticides alone allow pests to become difficult to control since they usually develop resistance over time. For example, flea control is best achieved with a simultaneous, coordinated effort involving strict sanitation, pet treatment and premises treatment (both indoors and outdoors). IPM combines preventive techniques, non-chemical pest control methods and the wise use of pesticides with preference for products that are least harmful to human and pet health plus the environment.
Inspection - Before treatment, discuss the pet's habits with the family members to determine where resting and sleeping occurs most frequently. Flea activity "hot spots" can be detected by wearing white socks and walking through the residence into suspected areas. Research has demonstrated that these areas will contain the highest amount of eggs, larvae and pupae even after vacuuming. Hot spots for homes with dogs are usually areas where the pet goes in and out of the house, eats, sleeps and spends time with the family at the base of furniture. For cats, check the tops of refrigerators, cabinets, bookcases, open crawl spaces and higher locations.
One can monitor flea populations with light traps by placing a shallow pan of warm water with a little dishwashing detergent (acts as a wetting agent which breaks water surface tension) on the floor. Position a gooseneck lamp with the light on about five to six inches above the liquid surface. Adult fleas will leap toward the light at night, fall into the detergent solution and drown. The Happy Jack flea trap is a commercial apparatus based on the same principle. Also, an ultralight flea trap attracts adult fleas with a green pulsating light, trapping them on a sticky tray.
Sanitation - Before vacuuming, collect all items (toys, shoes, clothes, etc.) off the floor, under beds, furniture, in closets, etc. to ensure best access for treatment. Also, cover fish tanks, remove bird cages, pet food and water dishes and wash or dry clean any pet bedding. Vacuuming carpeting with a beater bar-type machine where the pet rests and sleeps will help control flea larvae by removing eggs and dried blood feces (larval food) plus opening up the carpet's nap for more effective insecticide treatment. Vacuuming must be performed on a regular basis every other day to be effective. Flea larvae do not move far from the site of hatching when there is adequate food (dried blood feces from adults). Research indicates larvae spend 83 percent of the time deep in the carpet at the base of fibers frequently becoming entwined within the carpet. At pupation, the larva move up the carpet fiber spinning a camouflaging cocoon around itself. A flea infestation consists of approximately five percent adults, 10 percent pupae, 35 percent larvae and 50 percent eggs.
Vacuum especially where lint and pet hairs accumulate along baseboards, around carpet edges, on ventilators, around heat registers, in floor cracks, under and in furniture where the pet sleeps.
After vacuuming, place the vacuum bag in a large plastic garbage bag and discard in an outdoor trash container. If the cleaner uses a liquid water medium in a plastic reservoir (rather than a dust bag) discard dirty water far away from the house.
Biological - Use an insect growth regulator (IGR), which is a hormone to prevent eggs from hatching and larvae from pupating into biting adults. The IGRs methoprene (Precor) and pyriproxyfen (Nylar, Archer) are odorless and nonstaining on carpets or fabrics. Methoprene usually will reduce flea populations up to 95 percent in just 14 days while pyriproxyfen, due to its photostability, lasts in carpets for many months controlling fleas. IGRs do not kill pupa or adults and are more effective when mixed with an adulticide. Ohio Pest Control operators report few homeowner callbacks when using a water-based spray mixture of methoprene (Precor) and propetamphos (Catalyst). Recent research shows the new IGR pyriproxyfen mixed with permethrin will often give 90 day control. Indoor treatment with an IGR in May or June, before the flea infestation occurs, can be successful. IGRs are considered biodegradable and are not known to accumulate in the food chain. Methoprene, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is used in drinking water in some countries for mosquito larva control. IGRs are of negligible hazard to humans, pets, and the environment.
Parasitic nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae (Bio Flea Halt, Biosafe, Exhibit, Vector TL) are labeled for outdoors against flea larvae and pupae in the yard and garden habitats. Pre-adult fleas are killed for up to six weeks.
Botanicals - Pyrethrins, derived from the flowers of chrysanthemum, and rotenone from the roots of derris, cube and cracca plants, are good contact insecticides. Linalool (Demize), a citrus peel extract, is a natural, fast-acting flea killer, giving short residual control. Other botanicals include d-Limonene (Flea-Stop), citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, pennyroyal oil, balsam, lavender oil, calendula, comfrey, rosemary, tea tree oil and yucca.
Feeding pets garlic, brewer's yeast or B vitamins has not been shown to be effective against fleas. Also, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, rosemary, tea leaves and citronella have not provided effective control. In fact, overdosing of garlic or onion can be irritating or toxic to pets.
Prevention - Trim lawns and weeds to create a drier less ideal environment for flea larvae. Avoid piles of sand and gravel around the home for long periods of time. Fence yards to prevent dogs from roaming freely in heavily infested areas or contacting other infested animals. Discourage nesting or roosting of rodents and birds on or near the premises. Screen or seal vents, chimneys, crevices, etc. where rats, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, etc. may use to enter crawlspaces and buildings. Wild animals, especially opossums and raccoons, are primary hosts for overwintering fleas both on the animal and in the nest. Kansas surveys indicate 90 percent opossums in Midwest areas have fleas. Wash or destroy pet bedding, regularly groom pets and vacuum floors and upholstered furniture frequently to remove up to 95 percent of the flea eggs, some larvae and adults. Only about 20 percent of the larvae might be removed when vacuuming since they wrap themselves around the bottom strands of carpeting.