Fleas

Fleas (order Siphonaptera) are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. The most common species in homes is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), which despite its name also infests dogs, rodents, and—in their absence—people. They can jump up to 150 times their own body length and can remain in the pupal stage for months waiting for a host. A single female lays 20 to 50 eggs per day, so a small infestation can become a serious problem within weeks.

Identification

• Size: 1 to 3 mm, barely visible to the naked eye.
• Color: dark brown to reddish brown.
• Body: laterally flattened, allowing them to move quickly through the host's hair.
• Legs: long, powerful hind legs adapted for jumping.
• Life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The pupa can stay dormant for months until it detects the vibrations, heat, and carbon dioxide of a potential host.

Signs of infestation

Fleas often go unnoticed until the population is already large. These are the most common signs of an active infestation:

• Pets scratching: dogs and cats that scratch, bite, or lick persistently, especially on the back, the base of the tail, and the neck.
• Bites on people: intensely itchy red welts clustered around the ankles and lower legs, the areas closest to the floor.
• Flea dirt: black, pepper-like specks on the pet's coat or bedding; when dampened on white paper they turn reddish, because they are digested blood.
• Jumping fleas: tiny insects that jump as you walk across carpet or grass; wearing white socks makes them easier to spot.

Health risks

Beyond the nuisance, fleas pose a real health risk to your family and pets. Their bites cause flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), one of the most common skin problems in dogs and cats, with redness, hair loss, and infections from scratching. In people, the bites cause intense itching that can become secondarily infected when scratched.

Fleas also act as disease vectors. They transmit the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum when a pet or child accidentally swallows an infected flea, and they can transmit murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi) and, under specific conditions, the plague bacterium. In severe infestations, puppies and kittens can develop anemia from continuous blood loss.

How Fucesa controls it

Effective flea control requires Integrated Pest Management (IPM): treating the animal alone is not enough, because only about 5% of the population lives on the host; the remaining 95% (eggs, larvae, and pupae) lives in the environment. That is why Fucesa treats the pet, the interior, and the outdoor areas at the same time:

• Inspection: we identify breeding hotspots such as pet beds, carpets, cracks, and shaded areas of the yard.
• Environmental treatment: professional-grade insecticides combined with insect growth regulators (IGRs) that interrupt the development of eggs and larvae, preventing the infestation from restarting.
• Veterinary coordination: we recommend that a veterinarian apply flea products to pets in parallel with the property treatment.
• Follow-up: a second visit two to three weeks later eliminates the fleas that emerge from dormant pupae, the weak point of any single treatment.

Prevention

• Pet control: keep a continuous, year-round veterinary flea program in place.
• Frequent vacuuming: vacuum carpets, upholstery, corners, and under furniture, and dispose of the bag after each use to remove eggs and larvae.
• High-temperature washing: regularly wash pet bedding and the textiles where they rest.
• Tidy yard: clear weeds, keep the grass short, and control rodents and wildlife that bring fleas in from outside.

When to call a professional

If bites persist after treating your pets, if fleas reappear weeks after a deep cleaning, or if the infestation spans several rooms, it is time for professional control. Pupae that resist household insecticides and rapid reproduction mean that over-the-counter products rarely solve the problem at its root.

Fucesa has more than 40 years of experience in pest control and operates in compliance with Mexican standard NOM-256-SSA1-2012 and under a COFEPRIS health license, headquartered in Toluca with coverage in Querétaro. Our certified technicians design an IPM program tailored to each home or business, using products that are safe for family and pets when instructions are followed.