1. An expert on fleas is known as a (c) Pullicologist. Not in your dictionary? It's not in mine either, but could be worth points on Jeopardy some day. The Spanish for fleas is las pulgas, so the derivation is probably Latin. For the really big money, what exactly does a pullicologist do? Probably scratches a lot!
2. Female fleas lay up to (b) 50 fleas per day. That's a lot of flea eggs. They typically lay four to eight eggs at a time, 400 to 800 total within a typical flea lifetime. Flea eggs usually roll off the host and into pet bedding or other areas where the animal spends time resting. This is why your pest technician may ask about your pet's sleeping areas, in an effort to treat the areas of your house most likely to harbor an infestation source.
3. Diseases spread by fleas include (d) all of these: plague, tapeworm, and murine typhus. Flea bites themselves are usually just annoying, but can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.
4. The most common type of flea is the (b) cat flea. In fact, it could be called the "universal flea," as cat fleas, or Ctenocephalides felis, will happily feed on cats, dogs, rodents, or humans. You would need a microscope to tell the difference physically between dog fleas and cat fleas - but both will be happy to sample your blood. Dog fleas are rare in California. So-called "sand fleas" are actually crustaceans, unrelated to cat, dog, and rat fleas.
5. Flea eggs hatch in about (c) 10 days. Fleas undergo a complete metamorphosis. The eggs hatch into larvae in about 10 days, and the developing larvae feed on adult flea feces, which contain bits of dried blood. This is one of the reasons vacuuming is a big part of flea control. Depending on temperature, the larvae then molt three times in from seven days to several months. When mature, the larvae spin cocoons in which they pupate. From flea egg to adult flea can be a period of 16 days to a year or more.
7. According to the University of California online Integrated Pest Management guidelines, the best approach to managing fleas is (d) prevention. This means regular cleaning of pet bedding areas, and vet approved topical applications on the pets themselves. The most effective treatments inhibit the growth and/or reproduction of fleas. If fleas become a problem, chemical applications to carpeted areas and upholstered furniture may be necessary. Over-the-counter fogging agents do not have enough residual effect to control an infestation.
8. As indicated in the answer to #6 above, pre-emergent or pupal fleas can lie dormant for (d) up to 150 days. The immature fleas will not hatch until there is warmth, movement and carbon dioxide in the air - these are signals that a host is present. This is why we often experience a major hatch-out of fleas in a house or apartment that has been closed up and left vacant for weeks or months. What this means is that if your home has been sprayed for fleas, while the adult fleas will die within a few days, the pre-emergent fleas will wait for you. The best way to ensure the pupal fleas hatch and die is to vacuum daily after a flea treatment.
We hope this information on fleas and their control is useful in dealing with one of Southern California's most enduring pests.
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