When people think about summer pests, wasps and ants often spring to mind. However, one of the most common problems we deal with during the warmer months is fleas.
From late spring through to early autumn, flea activity increases significantly. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity create ideal conditions for fleas to breed, meaning July, August and September are often our busiest months for flea treatments.
Whether you own pets or not, understanding how fleas spread and what to do if you discover them can help prevent a small problem from becoming a much bigger infestation.
Why Are Fleas More Common During Summer?
Like many insects, fleas become more active as temperatures rise. The warmer conditions speed up their life cycle, allowing eggs to hatch more quickly and populations to grow rapidly. While fleas can survive indoors all year round, summer provides the perfect environment for infestations to establish themselves. Even a handful of them can quickly turn into hundreds if left untreated.
How Do Fleas Get Into My Home?
Many people assume an infestation will only affect homes with cats or dogs. While pets are the most common way fleas are introduced, they’re certainly not the only route. Fleas can enter your property through:
- Cats and dogs returning from outside
- Visiting pets
- Wildlife such as foxes or hedgehogs in the garden
- Previous infestations in rented properties
- Soft furnishings or second-hand furniture
The most common flea found in UK homes is the cat flea, but despite its name, it will happily feed on dogs and humans too.
Signs You May Have Fleas
The first indication is often persistent itching or unexplained bites around the ankles and lower legs. Other signs include:
- Pets scratching more than usual
- Small black specks in pet bedding (often flea dirt)
- Tiny jumping insects in carpets or soft furnishings
- Bites appearing after sitting on sofas or carpets
Unfortunately, by the time you notice adult fleas, there are often eggs and larvae already developing around your home.
Why Fleas Are So Difficult to Get Rid Of
One of the biggest challenges with flea infestations is their life cycle. Adult fleas live on animals, but their eggs don’t. Instead, eggs fall into:
- Carpets
- Rugs
- Floorboard gaps
- Pet bedding
- Upholstered furniture
A single female flea can lay hundreds of eggs during her lifetime, meaning infestations can grow surprisingly quickly. Perhaps even more frustrating is that flea pupae can remain dormant for weeks or even months before emerging when they detect vibrations, warmth or movement. This is why some people think their problem has disappeared, only for it to return later.
Preventing Fleas
Good prevention goes a long way towards reducing the risk of infestation. We recommend:
✔️ Keeping pets up to date with veterinary flea treatments.
✔️ Vacuuming carpets, rugs and soft furnishings regularly, paying particular attention to edges and beneath furniture.
✔️ Washing pet bedding on a hot wash.
✔️ Emptying vacuum cleaners immediately into an outside bin.
✔️ Checking pets after walks, particularly during the warmer months.
What Should You Do If You Already Have Fleas?
If you’ve started noticing bites or have seen fleas around your home, it’s important to act quickly. Many shop-bought treatments only deal with the adult fleas you can see. They often don’t break the full breeding cycle, allowing eggs and pupae to continue developing.
Professional treatment targets the infestation throughout your property and gives the best chance of eliminating the problem completely. For the best results, pets should also be treated with an appropriate veterinary flea product at the same time.
How We Can Help
At ASW Pest Control, we provide professional flea treatments for homes across Wiltshire. Our experienced technicians will assess the extent of the infestation and apply professional residual insecticide treatments to affected areas. We will provide advice on preparing your property before treatment and explain any aftercare needed to achieve the best results
In some cases, where infestations are well established or floorboards which will allow fleas to remain hidden beneath the surface, a follow-up visit may be recommended to ensure the life cycle has been completely broken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fleas survive without pets?
Yes. Adult fleas prefer animal hosts, but they will bite humans if necessary. Eggs, larvae and pupae can survive in carpets and furnishings for extended periods.
Why am I still seeing fleas after treatment?
It’s common for newly emerged fleas to appear for a short period after treatment as they hatch from pupae. This doesn’t necessarily mean the treatment hasn’t worked, it means the life cycle is continuing to emerge before being eliminated.
Do I need to treat my pet as well as my home?
Absolutely. Treating the property without treating the pet (or vice versa) rarely resolves the problem completely. Both should be addressed together.
Don’t Let Fleas Make Themselves at Home
Flea infestations are uncomfortable, frustrating and can become increasingly difficult to manage if left too long. The sooner they’re identified and treated, the easier they are to eliminate. If you think you have fleas, or you’d simply like some advice, our team is here to help.
Call us on 0800 592011 or get in touch online for fast, professional flea treatment across Wiltshire.
