Fleas are one of the most frustrating insects on the planet. They are tiny, reddish-brown ectoparasites that live outside a warm-blooded body, lay eggs, and feed on their victim's blood. They pack a painful, itchy bite and transmit various diseases, including typhus, plague, and tapeworms. They cause unbearable suffering for our pets and think nothing of taking a bite out of us. Even worse, they are challenging to eliminate when they infest our homes and surrounding areas. One single female can lay 50 eggs daily and live up to 100 days. Just ten on your pet can produce 1,400 eggs in a week. If left untreated, infestations can reach staggering numbers and render your home a miserably unsanitary, uncomfortable place to live.

They are so relentlessly aggravating that one might wonder if flea circuses were invented as a payback for the torment. Flea circuses were a real sideshow attraction dating back to the early 1800s that attached living fleas to miniature apparatuses to perform tricks for public amusement. They can pull more than 160,000 times their body weight and jump 30,000 times straight without stopping, making for one heck of a show. The circuses mostly died out by the end of the 20th century, but a few still pop up from time to time. Did you know that they can jump an astonishing 150 times their height?

Treating an infestation in the home is a complicated multi-step process. It involves preparing the home by thoroughly cleaning it from top to bottom and treating it with effective insecticidal products that kill the fleas and their eggs. Also, part of the process is treating infested pets with responsible but effective products and treating outside areas where they may lie in wait for you and your pets to walk by. Effectively eradicating an infestation requires that you perform these steps nearly simultaneously. Follow-up treatments are also usually necessary; sometimes, despite your best efforts, it may not be enough to eliminate the problem entirely. Most veterinarians recommend professional pest control help when you have a severe infestation.

Over-the-counter products  do not perform as well as professional-grade products. One of the more popular DIY products is flea bombs. The pesticide can kill fleas on the surface but does not penetrate deep where the eggs and larvae are. The bombs also leave residual toxicity throughout the dispersal area. And when it comes to preparing and treating your home, overlooking even the smallest detail can lead to failure. A pest control professional can provide the guidance you need to ensure success and help you keep the infestation from returning.

If you work or live in Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park, or the surrounding areas, flea infestations can be a year-round concern. Luckily, Westshore Pest Control is the leading and most trusted pest control company in Northeastern Illinois. We have cutting-edge technology, professional tools, and ongoing training to help you eliminate fleas and keep them away. Contact us today for a free estimate, and let us get rid of your itchy problem. It's time to bite back.