Fleas

What it looks like

• Tiny (1/16-1/8"), flat side-to-side, dark reddish-brown
• No wings, but powerful jumpers (up to 12" vertically)
• Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the species behind almost all Iowa pet flea infestations — including on dogs

Where you'll find it

• On pets (dogs and cats)
• In carpet, rugs, and pet bedding
• Cracks in hardwood floors and along baseboards
• Outdoor: shaded yard areas where pets rest, plus wildlife runs (deer, raccoons)

Behavior & biology

A flea infestation is mostly NOT the visible adults — those are about 5% of the population. The other 95% is eggs, larvae, and pupae in carpet, pet bedding, and floor crevices. Eggs hatch in 1-12 days; larvae develop for 5-20 days; pupae can stay dormant for months waiting for vibration/CO2/heat to trigger emergence. This pupal reservoir is why flea problems seem to come back after treatment.

Iowa activity calendar

Signs of an infestation

• Itchy bites in clusters around ankles and lower legs
• Pets scratching, biting at hindquarters or tail base
• Small black 'flea dirt' (digested blood) in pet bedding and on light flooring
• Tiny jumping insects visible on light socks worn through the home

Health & property risk

Bites are itchy and can become infected from scratching. Fleas transmit tapeworms to pets. Some people develop severe flea bite allergy. Historically transmit plague (not a current Iowa concern).

How we treat it

1. 1

   Coordinated pet + home treatment

   Treating the home without simultaneously treating the pet is wasted work — the pet immediately reseeds the home. We recommend an effective vet-approved product on every pet on the same day as our service.

2. 2

   Adulticide + IGR application

   Whole-home treatment with a residual adulticide kills emerging adults; an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) prevents larvae from maturing for up to 7 months.

3. 3

   Vacuum prep + post-treatment vacuum

   We instruct on pre-treatment vacuuming (to lift eggs/larvae out of carpet) and ongoing daily vacuuming for 2 weeks (vibration triggers pupae to emerge into the residual).

4. 4

   Outdoor treatment when needed

   If wildlife is reseeding pets in the yard, we treat shaded resting areas around the home.

Why DIY usually fails

Foggers do almost nothing for fleas — they don't penetrate carpet to reach the larvae. Vacuuming, pet treatment, and IGR is what works.

FAQ