Fleas exhausted by apartment tenants and pet owners in an unsuccessful fight against parasites sometimes begin to forget that fleas, generally speaking, are insects like butterflies, cockroaches, or, say, mosquitoes. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that fleas are afraid of many substances, odors, cold, loud noises and much more, which may well be used in practice to fight small bloodsuckers.
About what exactly fleas are afraid of and how it can be applied to fight them, we will go on and talk in more detail.
Insecticidal drugs as the main fear of parasites
The greatest fear and, if I may say so, horror for fleas are substances that have a destructive effect on their bodies and lead to destabilization of the nervous system. Fleas feel these compounds well and are afraid only of their smell.
In practice, in most cases, insects are no longer able to leave the room in which such smells appeared - they simply do not have time to die from the action of an insecticide. But sensing such a smell on the treated animal (for example, if drops were applied on withers or insecticacaricidal spray), the parasites no longer consider the pet as their next victim and do not jump on it.
It is interesting
Exposure to flea contact insecticides usually begins with peripheral nerve endings. After that, the parasite begins to develop paralysis of certain parts of the nervous system up to the central ganglions. Finally, the flea loses its ability to move, its internal muscles come in a strong tone (spasm), and it dies from stopping the movement of blood in the body. With a sufficient concentration of insecticide, all this happens very quickly, literally within a few tens of seconds. Even having received a very small dose of poison by the standards of an insect, fleas experience very unpleasant sensations, and therefore it is not surprising that they are afraid of such substances (it is more correct, of course, to say - avoid such substancesas insects are unlikely to be able to experience fear in the usual sense of the word).
Such substances that pose a serious danger to fleas include:
- Some compounds that are part of the well-known Dichlorvos, Karbofos and a number of other drugs to combat insects. To a certain extent, they are also toxic to animals and humans, and therefore are usually used only for the treatment of premises, while substances of a different chemical nature are used for the treatment of cats and dogs. Fleas are afraid of only smelling them, and therefore, even sensing the remedy from the next room, they literally retire.
- Pyrethrins and pyrethroids - insecticides, low toxicity to warm-blooded animals, but very toxic to fleas and insects in general. Pyrethrins among them are the natural components of plants, and pyrethroids are their synthetic analogues. These substances include, for example, Permethrin, Fenotrin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Etofenprox. They are part of the Raptor, insecticide, means of FAS, Medilis-Ziper and others, and from the means for the treatment of animals - in the composition of some anti-flea collars, drops Tsipam, Sentry, Bars, as well as various sprays.
- Fipronil and Imidacloprid are insecticides of the new generation, characterized by low toxicity for animals and humans. Fleas have the same effect as previous substances. They are most often used in the most effective and safe means for ridding animals of fleas - in Frontline, Hartz and others.
Important
Although pyrethroids are considered to be of low toxicity, some animals may be sensitive to their ingestion. Cats are especially sensitive to them. However, these substances are part of many means for getting rid of fleas from animals - if used correctly, the risk of poisoning the animal is minimal.
There are a number of other insecticides that fleas are also afraid of — many insect repellents in everyday life or agriculture possess not only destructive, but also scaring properties. In the case of such means, the effect usually depends on the distance and concentration - close to them they destroy insects, and from afar they mostly scare away.
Extreme temperatures, sun and water
Fleas can live and develop normally only within certain limits of the physical conditions of the environment, beyond which they are carefully avoided.
For example, fleas are afraid of the cold. For the majority of flea species found in apartments (primarily, cat, dog, rat and human flea), temperatures around -15 ° C are already uncomfortable, at -10 ° they cease to multiply.
Accordingly, fleas and the cold of the flea as a whole are not less afraid than the poisonous substances. Therefore, in winter flea-infected rooms it is useful to freeze regularly. This is especially true for chicken coops and barns.
Fleas are afraid and too high temperatures. At + 45 ° C cat and rat fleas begin to die. Therefore, for example, when destroying bugs with the help of industrial fan heaters, fleas also die.
It is also useful to bear in mind that fleas are afraid of water. When bathing cats and dogs infected with fleas, most of the parasites try to get out of the wool and not get into the water.therefore, if it is impossible to bait fleas regularly, regular bathing can significantly alleviate the suffering of an infected pet.
On a note
For all the dislike of fleas for water, it cannot be used as a deterrent against these parasites in an apartment: even if you regularly wash the room and spray it with water, the fleas will not leave it.We can say that fleas are afraid of water only when they are threatened with oxygen starvation due to complete immersion under water.
Also, fleas do not like direct sunlight and, hitting a well-lit place, they try to get out of it as quickly as possible.
The effects of chemical odors on fleas
Fleas are very sensitive to odors. In many ways, this is a consequence of their parasitic lifestyle - almost all blood-sucking insects have a strong sense of smell, and sharp chemical odors frighten them.
For example, the following smells are among the most unpleasant for fleas:
- kerosene
- gasoline
- turpentine
- vinegar
- alcohol
- chloroform.
In general, fleas are afraid of the smell of many aggressive chemicals. So, insects quickly disappear from the room in which the walls are painted or other works with paintwork materials on organic solvents, they do not like the smell of putty and cement.
The downside of such strongly smelling repellent substances is that it is difficult for a person to live with pets next to these fragrances.
Strong natural odors
But the natural odors of plants that do not like fleas - a great way to scare them out of the apartment. Here, each room owner can choose a scent that suits him, but which can make the parasites get out of the room.
The most famous include:
- tansy
- sagebrush
- eucalyptus
- geranium
- carnation
- lavender
- juniper, pine and other conifers
- thyme
- essential oils of walnut, camphor, aloe
- mint.
It is important to remember that for effective scaring these fragrances should be strong enough - just sprinkling indoors with an air freshener will not be enough. In the ideal case, the same wormwood, tansy or other flea grass should be laid out in the corners of the apartment as the brooms of their fresh bushes, and lavender or eucalyptus should be used as fumigators.
However, the smells of herbs and plants will not help completely get rid of fleas in the room. They can only scare off parasites from the bed or bedding of the dog for a short time, but when the insects face the problem of choice - to endure hunger or smell, it, as practice shows, will be able to overcome their fear of the same wormwood.Thus, such tools are good only as a preventive measure - they should be kept where they can scare off fleas even before they appear and reproduce.
Natural flea enemies
There is also a certain set of species of living creatures, which themselves parasitize on fleas or simply pose a danger to them. Accordingly, in their natural habitat, fleas also fear and avoid them.
On a note
Parasites that parasitize other parasites are called super parasites. And this is not just a pun, but a definition from a textbook on entomology. There are a great many examples of superparasitism in nature - in the class of insects there is even a whole detachment of horsemen with many thousands of insect species that can parasitize on most other insects, including the parasites of animals and humans.
Thus, ants actively attack fleas and their larvae, including ordinary domestic pharaoh ants.
It is not known which of these opponents is less desirable in the premises for the owner, but if there is a colony of ants in the apartment, the fleas in it are unlikely to be able to reproduce normally (their larvae will be especially vulnerable).
Fleas also suffer from fungal infections and nematodes, but it is impossible to use this with any practical results in practice.
Why are not afraid of fleas: do not let yourself be deceived!
There are also persistent myths about exposure and devices that fleas are not afraid of, no matter how much advertising agents shout about it. For example, it is almost impossible to scare away fleas from a room with various ultrasonic devices or means generating electromagnetic waves. Advertising of such devices today is massively submitted through all means of communication, but the practical experience of using these tools does not confirm their effectiveness.
Also, fleas are indifferent to all kinds of prayers and conspiracies that are still popular with the older generation. Perhaps, somewhere in the outback today with the help of such methods they are trying to infer parasites, but it has been checked in practice: they all do not work.
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Here are drops from fleas - yes, it does help, but everything else in my opinion is simply nonsense.
Thank you very much for the wonderful informative site! Special thanks to the author of articles! The fact is that my friend in the house accidentally got fleas, or rather they stayed after the stray cat that her mother brought to catch the mouse. As a result, the cat, of course, did not catch any mouse, but safely lived 4 days under the bath, going out only at night to have a snack with sausage and milk.Kota miraculously managed to show off, but the fleas did not want to leave and decided to stay, because under the bath is definitely warmer than in the most cozy basement. Naturally, this neighborhood does not suit anyone, and now, thanks to you, we have managed to learn almost everything about the habits and preferences of fleas and the methods of their destruction. Particularly impressed by the "freezing". Thanks you!
Poor cat ... I was just glad that I had found good people and a house.
In general, only your domestic cat will catch mice at home, just to please the owners. A stray - from hunger in the basement or in nature.
Fresh mint has always helped me in large quantities (in pillows and wherever my pets sleep). Plus, rub their fur with palms rubbed with mint. Plus I comb a flea comb, dipped in slightly baby shampoo and a little vinegar. The remaining fleas cats bite themselves perfectly. Chemistry do not want to poison them.
Excellent help from fleas and ticks, flea collars - 100% tested. We live in the forest with a bunch of cats and dogs. Every summer we wear collars for 150 rubles, and no problems!
Natalia, hello! That you from red fleas so saved, who live on pets. But what to do with basement fleas, black ones? They are not affected by funds from fleas ryzhih ((survivors, you bastards!
Thanks, it helped me.
Are scarers, even expensive ones, ineffective? But what about when to treat the area affected by fleas is impossible for many reasons?
The article is really helpful! Went to collect mint with a hole))
Thank you very much
Vanilla wash the floor.
Neither collars nor shampoos helped my cat! All hope for drops!
We, too, are only saved by drops, the collar does not help.
I am trying to remove fleas by all means, the last thing I use is Bi-58.
How did the drug help? We have fleas in our house than we did not fight. How did this drug help you?
Bought drops and collar, and not cheap. There is no result. What to do?
Thank you very much! I bought drops, and after a while the fleas did not exist, and I bought a collar so that the cat would not catch the fleas again.
And what drops?
Year struggling with fleas after the appearance in the apartment of a small kitten who infected the purest five-year-old cat. Kotov handled and “badger”, and “leopard”, and “super-barrier”, and “insect-stop”, and “Advantage”, and “four with a tail” - poor cats. For a week and a half are cleaned, then in a new way. She treated the apartment with “neostomazan”, “neo-dichlorvos”, sheadened wormwood. For six months, removed the mats - like, nothing. By the winter she brought back - the same thing. Again, all and all processed, the result is zero. Maybe someone will tell something radical? And all his life helped "Barsik" kitten from the first time.
It is better to call SES, they will treat the whole room with their special poison. We took them out like this.
Process flat Butoksom. There is a beta.
Flat and clothes can be treated with steam (iron or steam cleaner), clothes put in the freezer overnight.
Thank you for the article!
After the appearance of fleas on small kittens with calcivirosis for 7 years, I use Frontline spray, but at a dosage 3-4 times less than the indicated one. I do not process the apartment, maybe a little in the corners of it. The principle of action is absorption into the hair, not into the blood, which means less harm. It always helps. But this dosage helps if there is a little flea. With a large number did not try, but probably also helps. I read about it - that one girl just sprinkles three times instead of 30 nursing cats and doesn’t handle kittens. And now my cats are sick - the kidneys, they can not be poisoned, so 5 times today, each pshiknula.
When my mother was little, her parents only finished building the house, there also appeared fleas (I do not know which ones: black or red). Mom said that they just cleaned the floor with bleach and after half a year no one was left. My grandfather hunted all his life, and there were many dogs, and they were in the forest for a long time, but there were still no fleas in the house and there were none. More than 40 years have passed, fleas are only on cats, but not in the hut.
She moved, and recently found one flea on her dog, dripped drops.Began to worry that even sex fleas will start (first floor), so my mother advised bleach. Now my sex is only with her, occasionally my husband bathes the dog with tar soap and bought a collar.
Fleas die from washing powder if they are washed from time to time, even in low concentrations. But for some reason they are not afraid of shampoos for carpets and liquid floor products.
What means should be applied to human skin to scare away cat fleas from yourself?
What and how to get rid of fleas? Drops, spray and collar do not help!
That just did not try, nothing takes them. A veterinarian says that he knows a couple of such cats, on which nothing acts. Tell me, can this be ??? I have a Scottish Fold (Scott Fold). Thank you so much for the advice. I look forward to it.
That's it, the same picture, and with the family was not, and then attacked - and the scribe! Takes nothing. Scotch too. If you did, tell me how and with what?
Flea is afraid of strong foam. I bathe ordinary soap, soap the cat and maintain a strong foam for 5-6 minutes, then rinse. Fleas are dying.Pay attention to the litter - dead fleas will fall on it. I have been using this method for several years. The cat has a very beautiful and soft coat, like after shampoo. This method was suggested to me by a veterinarian with a long history of work.
What are flea most afraid of? Strange question ... Lefty, of course. This is known from the classics. Podkuet - and can not jump more fleas. But seriously - sprinkle dichlorvos in those places where cats and dogs spend the most time. And the whole business. And no more fleas. Well, at least until the new ones start ...
Guard! I have a pet kitty, I don’t walk on the street at all. The third year she went. Attacked fleas. And not just attacked, but attacked directly. Just teeming! The animal was exhausted ((I try to pull out a week. Drops of 2 types, collar, 2 types of shampoo, dichlorvos has already reached and haircuts. A day goes by and they attack again. They flunted the apartment too! WHERE did they take? How to fight?
At home there was karbofos, he processed the apartment, all according to the instructions. All because of the dog that fleas picked up somewhere. The dwarf pinscher saw a flea running in the face and ... I added karbofos to the dog shampoo, half a teaspoon, soaped the dog completely, held it for 10 minutes.Washed off with warm water. Everything. As there were no fleas. Dog collar soaked in karbofos, dried and dressed on a dog. Bye, pah-pah, everything is fine. Fleas no. Chesala dog after washing, no one fell out - died in the process of washing.
Every day you need to use a different tool. Start with any that you can buy in the store, or that you will find at home or gather in the field. The main thing is to understand that this is a war, and after processing the room once, even very carefully, be ready the next day to carry out the treatment again, but preferably with the following means. When I go shopping, I definitely buy a new flea medicine. Today was Dichlorvos. In the morning I sprayed the whole apartment, I came in the evening from work - for 3 hours no one had bitten. That week, Masha's crayon, before that, acetic water (washed floors), drops from a veterinary store, clove essential oil. I want to buy "Biorin" and "Raptor", but have not yet come across. If I process the apartment like in the past week, it will still bite. Terrible allergy, immediately take "Cetrin". I agree to have ants. This year is a very long flea, already the 4th month.
Homes are fleas, no strength. Than only did not poison, called the sanitary epidemiological station, said that there is nothing to poison. In general, they refused! What to do?
I bought York, found fleas on it. At home, a tartan and two small children ((Collars, drops and shampoos do not help! They started to bite the children and got to the cat. What to do? How to get out?
I have such a problem. Bought a house in Bulgaria. It turns out that in the "appendage" to the house they also received a bunch of fleas in it. Despite the almost finished repair, the fleas did not disappear. They only bite me, and in such a way that I do not see the light of white. I am already afraid to go to Bulgaria because of this. Tell me, please, if I put dog kits on my legs (like bracelets), will it help? Is it harmful to humans?
Fleas need urgently corrode. If you do not know how, then it is better to call the experts. They will not give you life and will not disappear by themselves. I have friends who ran away from home because of fleas. Well, that house was removable. In short, fleas are a terrible thing, and worst of all, they are carriers of any infection. I recently poisoned myself with some poisons used to wash cows and sheep (treated).Fleas disappeared literally for a week, and now again hordes, such black. Where did they come from, FIG knows before there was ...
Bred fleas. That is, they bought a house, and there are plenty of fleas. Bite the granddaughter, all walks in Zelenka. Are there ointments that repel fleas from a child? And so we fight with all sorts of sprayers - both in the house and on the street, but there is no sense. Moved, a year like in the Kuban. We in Omsk, this creature was not. Help!