Fleas

Wolverhampton City Council provides a free service to all occupied domestic premises within Wolverhampton for the treatment of fleas.

There are different types of flea.

Common types of flea

The cat flea is by far the commonest flea in this country and despite its name will live on humans and dogs.

Cat fleas usually bite on the lower portions of the leg and ankle. If you are bitten regularly on the waist or abdomen this could be a human flea although these are much rarer.

Dog fleas are much rarer than cat fleas but very similar in how they look and behave.

Behaviour of fleas

Although fleas jump onto their host to feed they spend a lot of time in and around bedding where they lay eggs and rest between feeds.

The larvae of the flea usually take a month to grow but if the conditions are not right they can live in their cocoon until they sense the presence of a warm blooded animal at which point they hatch out and feed.

This delay in hatching is one reason why people moving into houses that have been empty for a while still suffer with flea problems.

It can also lead to reinfestation of premises after treatment as the fleas avoid the initial insecticidal treatment in their cocoons and emerge later when the insecticide has worn off.

The bite of a flea can take several hours to become irritating. This can make it difficult to locate the source of the fleas. For example, if you have recently visited another property you may have been bitten while there but not felt the reaction until you get home!

Treatment of fleas

If you have a pet you should visit your local vet for advice on the various treatments available for your pet or its bedding.

Products that can be applied to the pet itself can be as effective at killing the infestation as spraying your house with insecticide - and a lot safer.

Careful vacuuming of your carpet and soft furnishings is recommended although you should empty your cylinder or bag into an external bin immediately to prevent the fleas or their larvae escaping from the vacuum back into the carpet.

Spraying your property with an insecticide will kill the adult flea but without the treatment of pets and good hygiene it is not one hundred percent effective.

Domestic Premises

Treatment for fleas in domestic premises is free and is provided by the Council. An appointment can be made by contacting Public Protection.

Business Premises

A chargeable service for the treatment of fleas in business premises is available from the Council. For a free no obligation quote please contact Public Protection.