Household pests
Fleas
Fleas are small insects measuring from about 1.3 to 3.2 millimeters (0.05 to 0.125 inches) in length. They have long, powerful hind legs which they use both to jump onto their hosts as well as to evade capture.They are extremely adept at jumping, capable of reaching heights of 7 inches and to span distances of a remarkable 13 inches. This is over 160 times the flea's length. To put this in human perspective, a 6 foot man with a flea's propulsive prowess would be able to jump to the top of a 30 story building and leap across two football fields!
As external parasites, adult fleas survive from the ingested blood of their hosts. Their blood meals can come from a variety of different vertebrates, including mammals such as mice, rats, cats, dogs and humans as well as domesticated birds like chickens and parrots. Fleas prefer animals with dense hair (or feathers) which provide ample ability to hide. Their anatomy is well suited to navigation in hair as they are thin and possess a slippery outer body.
Fleas are extremely resistant to pressure, probably evolved as an adaptation to the hosts' efforts to kill them by nipping, scratching or squeezing. Pets almost invariably fail to kill fleas through their own efforts.
Understanding the flea life cycle is important in developing a plan for their elimination. In fact the visible adult fleas which come to our attention when the dog scratches or we see a dark spoton our leg represent just a tiny fraction of the total flea population. Typically 50 percent of the flea population exists as eggs, 35 percent are in the larval phase, 10 percent are in the pupal phase and a mere 5 percent are adults. Thus, even if an insecticide is effective in killing the adults, unless the earlier phases of the flea life cycle are addressed, the flea problem will persist.
One of the simplest ways to control flea populations is to reduce humidity. Flea eggs require moist environments to survive, preferably greater than 70 percent relative humidity. This explains why fleas are so much more prevalent in the summer. During the winter, the lower outdoor humidity, plus the use of indoor heating systems keeps the environment much drier. This makes it much harder for flea eggs to survive.
Simply running an air conditioner or dehumidifier in the area where the pet sleeps can reduce flea populations considerably.
Frequent vacuuming can help as well. Most flea eggs and larva are effectively removed from the carpet when it is vacuumed. However they are not killed, and the bag should be promptly placed in a Zip-lock bag and discarded or else surviving fleas will make their way out of the vacuum!
Using a desiccant before vacuuming can improve the odds of eliminating eggs and larva. The most obvious choice is table salt. Sprinkle carpets with salt and leave for several days then vacuum up. The salt will kill many early stage fleas by dehydrating them. Borax and diatomaceous earth are further possibilities. Both serve as desiccants and can kill substantial populations of flea eggs and larva.
Cedar oil, which is extracted from cedar chips and sawdust, is an effective, non-toxic means to control fleas. This can be purchased in its natural form (e.g. cedar oil spray) or in FDA approved formulations such as Cedarcide and Greenlight 3-Step Flea & Tick Control. Though cedar oil does not kill adult fleas it's scent is extremely irritating to them and they usually will not lay eggs if the scent is present. Spraying carpeting and pet bedding with cedar oil spray and giving the pet a thorough bathing with cedar oil shampoo is a natural (and nice-smelling) method to control fleas.
Cockroaches
Although there are about 4000 species of cockroach, only a small percentage are found in human habitations. The vast majority of them live in tropical regions and have little or no interaction with humans. Of the pest species, the best known are the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), The German cockroach (Blattella germanica), the Asian cockroach (Blattella asahinai) and the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis). Of these the largest is the American cockroach with an average adult size of about 1.2 inches. The Asian and German cockroaches are the smallest at an average of about 0.6 inches.
Cockroaches are agile creatures. They can not only can walk up walls, they can even traverse a ceiling. Their bodies are also very compressible. Smaller cockroaches can easily crawl through a space the thickness of a dime. Larger cockroaches may require the thickness of a quarter.
Cockroaches are amazingly hardy. Since they are completely omnivorous they can survive on just about any organic matter, anything from dead flies to toaster crumbs. And should they suffer a period with little or no food, it probably won't kill them. Most species can easily survive three weeks without eating. They can even live through attempts to drown them.
Experiments have been performed in which cockroaches were submerged in water for 30 minutes. Though they appeared dead when the water was drained they later recovered.
The German cockroach is known to be especially resistant to pesticides. This species is adept at developing mutated strains with special proteins to reduce the pesticide's effectiveness. For example, DDT - a powerful insecticide - was once very effective against the German cockroach. However by 1969, DDT resistance was reported and quickly became commonplace. Another pesticide called Malathion, widely used for treating head lice, was once effective against them. However this too was eventually rendered largely useless as the German cockroach developed resistance.
Gel baits were effective throughout the 1990s. But recently, some German cockroaches have evolved an aversion to gel-bait traps, while others have simply become resistant to the pesticide used in them. It appears that no chemical will ever be permanently effective against the German cockroach, as it will eventually develop resistance to any pesticides used against it.
Fortunately, northern climates such as Vermont and New Hampshire tend not to have as much of a cockroach problem as warmer areas. Many homes do not have any cockroaches at all, while in others the problem is relatively mild. Northern homes are also less likely to have cockroaches with multiple pesticide resistance.
If there is no existing cockroach problem, the most obvious defense is to simply avoid introducing them into the home. If you have been travelling in a hot, humid area, be aware that cockroaches may have stowed away in your baggage. Even a single pregnant female could provide a thriving population of roaches within six months. Especially when returning from a known area of infestation, it is a good idea to inspect or "quarantine" your belongings before bringing them into the house. One possibility is to bring your unopened suitcases immediately to a laundromat. Wash all clothing there and inspect any baggage thoroughly before replacing the clothes. Though of course there is the possibility you will pick up new "travelers" at the laundromat, this is very unlikely, as the bustle and noise of the environment is anathema to the roach.
Another possibility is to spread a white sheet out on the lawn far away from the house (you could use a public park if you're especially worried). After you inspect each article of clothing, seal it in a plastic container for later washing. Once you have finished looking through the clothes, be sure to inspect the baggage itself. Cockroaches can tuck themselves into deep corners and become virtually invisible, especially in dark colored luggage.
Other preventative measures include limiting the roach's potential food and water sources. While it is true that cockroaches can survive for long periods of time without food, the fact is that the less food left for the taking, the less likely a roach problem will develop. Wipe all counters thoroughly and keep the toaster tray free of crumbs. Sweep and/or vacuum all floors often, especially after food preparation.
Roaches love dark, enclosed spaces and are especially appreciative of any food left in these areas, so cupboards are a favorite gathering place. Make sure cupboard shelves are perfectly clean and keep all cupboard food contents tightly sealed. A bit of spilled flour may seem harmless, but to a cockroach it represents weeks of fine dining.
Stoves are a favorite roach hangout. Many stoves have a hinged top which hides a veritable smorgasbord for roaches. Crumbs and grease from cooking fall into this area and can quickly accumulate sufficient food to feed a small army of six legged compatriots. So frequent inspection and cleaning of this area is crucial. The area underneath and around a stove can also provide some delicious roach meals. Periodically pull the stove out from any cabinetry. Sweep away stray crumbs from the floor and wipe down both the cabinetry and sides of the stove.
Remember that a single bread crumb could keep a roach alive for several months!
Fix any leaky faucets and dry the sink before leaving the kitchen, especially at night. Water is essential to all insects, including cockroaches, no matter if some claim they are invincible!
Unfortunately, once cockroaches take up residence in your home they can be one of the most difficult pests to eliminate. Keeping cabinets, stoves and toasters as clean as possible; leaving the sink dry when leaving the kitchen; frequent vacuuming and sweeping: these are all good ways to control their numbers. You may also try such earth-friendly measures as sprinkling cabinet tops with Borax or diatomaceous earth if you are only looking to reduce the population to tolerable levels.
But these measures are unlikely to eliminate them entirely. If complete eradication is your goal, then calling the exterminator is probably your only option. Even then it may take several attempts to find a pesticide which works. Many will seem work for a time but within a few weeks or months the roaches will be back. German cockroaches in particular are true John Travoltas of the animal kingdom, reappearing stronger than ever long after you think they've disappeared. If you live in a condominium complex or apartment building with shared walls then elimination isn't possible unless you have the cooperation of the landlords or superintendants of the the entire structure. If this cannot be obtained then vacating the premises will be your only option if you are truly cockroach averse.
Keeping your house clean and dry is your first defense against indoor pests. If you have a Vermont home, please consider getting an estimate for regular house cleaning. Just go to our contact page and fill out your information. Nancy will be happy to discuss with you the details of your cleaning project.