Tips & Tricks: How to Manage Fleas and Flies

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March 10, 2016

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When managing fleas, the best offense is a good defense. Applying an aerosol containing a residual insecticide with an insect growth regulator (IGR) is a common flea treatment. To ensure a winning outcome, get the customer involved by making sure they properly prepared the home beforehand. Preparation strategies should include:

  • Vacuum all floors and carpets, and underneath upholstered furniture — including the cushions. This stimulates flea emergence, allowing them to come in contact with your treatment.
  • Make sure the vacuum canister or bag is immediately emptied or disposed of outside in the trash to prevent
    re-infestation.
  • Request a veterinarian treat dogs and cats for fleas the same day as the service.

As for another common pest, cluster flies (Pollenia spp.) often overwinter inside wall voids and the attics of structures. They’ll collect on the sunny side of structures, searching for cracks to enter. They are slightly larger than house flies, with golden hairs on their thorax.

Cluster fly control is best achieved by excluding them from the structure. However, if they enter, trap them. Small light-emitting diode (LED) camp lights can be placed within the voids near glue traps as an attractant.

— By Jennifer Fox, Regional Technical Specialist, Terminix International, and Scott Brown, BCE, Regional Technical Specialist of Schendel Pest Services, a Terminix company

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