Assassin Pest Control
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Fleas

Flea Control

There are approximately 70-80 species of fleas in Australia (Order Siphonaptera), the most common being the cat flea and the dog flea. They are 1-6mm in length and black or brown in colour. The cat flea is far the more common species, with this parasite being found in both dogs and cats.


People often refer to these as grass fleas or sand fleas. It is incorrect to assume that these fleas just live in the grass or sand. They are usually cat fleas that their pet has deposited on the ground. All fleas are blood-sucking parasites, and they need a living host in order to survive.


Fleas are wingless insects with a laterally flattened body, hairy with hooks on their legs to move easily through and to grip onto the fur of their hosts. They have very powerful legs that have a rubber-like resilin in their joints. When they compress these legs and release them, they are catapulted into the air by as much as 20cm up and 35cm horizontally – 150 times their own length. That is comparable to a person jumping onto Ayres Rock.

Life Cycle

A female flea can lay up to 25 eggs in a day and over 800 in a lifetime. The eggs hatch between 5 & 14 days, becoming larvae. These are blind & leg-less and feed upon organic matter such as dried blood from the host. After 2 to 3 weeks, the larvae are fully grown, spin a silk cocoon and become pupae. When a stimulus in the form of vibration or heat is sensed, the pupae emerge as adults. This can take from 2 to 3 weeks normally, or over a year, to happen. This explains why people returning from holidays & entering their houses are attacked by a large number of fleas. An adult flea can survive for over 4 months without a blood feed.

For help with the control of fleas, contact Assassin today on 0407 737 843.

0407 737 843
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