We are all very excited to welcome spring, but with that comes the annual rise in flea populations around our county and state. Florida is notorious for fleas (among so many other critters!), and you can be sure that we’ll be seeing plenty of them in the coming months. So, in light of that fact, we thought we’d share a few fun facts about nobody’s favorite little bug.
Not-so-Fun Facts about Fleas in Florida
· The flea life cycle can be broken down into four parts: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
· Treating your pet is not enough to eradicate a flea infestation. You have to treat the environment, too. Fleas love to burrow into your furniture, carpets, and even under your baseboards. For every flea you see on your pet, there are 100 in your house, mostly in the 
· Flea populations are very difficult to control. A female flea can lay up to fifty eggs per day, and that can go on for up to 100 days, which means a single flea can produce thousands of eggs
· Pupa can stay safely cocooned for up to a year. They can go up to two weeks without a meal and still survive. They are extremely hardy creatures!
· Fleas are the best jumpers around. They can jump as high as 150 times their body length.
· Indoor pets are not safe from fleas. Fleas are easy to transport into your home environment.
· Fleas are very effective vectors for a variety of diseases and parasites. Some of those are even harmful to humans, such as Bartonella henselae, which is the bacteria responsible for cat scratch disease. Fleas can also lead to tapeworm infections and dermatitis problems. Moreover, extreme flea infestations can also make animals sick by causing anemia, which in severe cases can lead to death.
It is much better to prevent a flea infestation than to try to overcome it. Fortunately, there are some very effective and economical flea control products on the market. Many of these products also prevent heartworms and intestinal parasites. There is so much to love about our beautiful climate here in Florida, but unfortunately, we’re not the only ones who feel that way. Our warm, humid environment makes this the perfect destination for fleas, so make sure your pet is protected all year around! As us for product recommendations.