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Fleas
 Fleas
are among the top economic pests in the U.S. Each year 52 million
pet owners nationwide spend nearly $500 million on flea control. While
killing adult fleas to provide quick relief is a good start, a long
term solution is more desirable as adult fleas comprise only 5% of
the flea population, eggs comprise 50%, larvae comprise 35%, and pupae
comprise 10%. |
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Control of Fleas
Flea control requires conscientious effort for a period of several
weeks in coordination with a licensed pest control specialist.
Flea Checklist Prior to Treatment
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Before the home is sprayed for fleas: |
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Vacuum all carpeting, furniture and drapes.
Throw away vacuum cleaner bag when finished. |
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Wash any pet bedding. |
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Sweep and mop all floors thoroughly (including
closets, under beds, etc.). |
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Take all items off floors (including closet
floors.) |
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Remove pet food and litter box(es). |
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Cover aquariums and turn off pump (fresh water
only.) |
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Turn off air conditioning - open windows. |
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Have pet treated (the day the home is sprayed.) |
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All linens should be removed from beds
& washed. |
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Leave home for 4 hours at the time of treatment. |
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After home is sprayed for fleas: |
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Do not wash floors for 14 days. |
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Vacuum every day and change vacuum
cleaner bag after every use. |
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Flies
 Cluster
flies are pests of homes, schools, hospital and commercial buildings.
Cluster fly larvae parasitize (feed inside) a common species of
earthworms, Allolobophore rosea, during the summer.
As the weather becomes cooler, the last summer generations of adults
emerge from the soil and look for a nice, warm place to hibernate,
such as attics, wall voids, or window sills. These hardy little
insects can travel more than a mile for a suitable hibernation site.
Cluster flies winterover and emerge from hibernation in the spring
to breed and lay eggs on the soil surface near the earthworms which
the young then infest. Cluster flies that winter over are the most
troublesome because of their sheer numbers. Stimulated by warm weather,
they can become active again during warm spells in Winter, and again
in early Spring, and try to find openings to go back outside.
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Control of Cluster Flies
The best control measure for these pests is exclusion, by sealing
up all cracks or other entry points, and possibly by applying a
residual chemical barrier to deny access to exterior cracks or holes
which cannot be effectively closed.
Sweeping or vacuuming the pests from windows or attics is helpful
but then they must be sealed in a plastic bag, and disposed of with
the normal trash or garbage.
An individual from a pest control company can identify the pests,
evaluate the problem and possibly apply an exterior perimeter treatment
which should help keep them out in the fall when they tend to look
for likely spots to hibernate.
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 The
Drain Fly has several common names: moth fly, sewage fly,
filter fly. The name moth fly comes from its fuzzy appearance as
their bodies and wings are very hairy. Drain/sewage/filter fly common
name originates from typical breeding and developmental sites. These
flies are usually considered nuisance pests but there have been
cases of bronchial asthma caused by inhalation of their body parts.
Adults are 1/16"-1/4" long, delicate, fuzzy, pale yellowish
to brownish gray to blackish in color. Mature larvae are about 1/8"-3/8"
long and are eyeless and legless.
Adult females lay 30-100 eggs in irregular masses on the surface
of gelatinous film covering filter stones of sewage treatment plants
or lining the water-free portions of drain pipes. The larvae feed
on algae, bacteria, fungi, microscopic animals, and sludge. The
developmental time is 7-28 days. Adults usually live 2 weeks. Although
they breed in sewage, they do not transmit diseases.
Drain flies are able to penetrate ordinary screen. Since they are
weak fliers, the can be seen indoors crawling on walls or other
surfaces. They fly only short distances of a few feet in short jerky
lines. However they can be carried by the wind to distances of 300
feet. During the day, they typically rest on vertical surfaces near
drain opening indoors and in shaded areas outdoors.
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Control of Drain Flies
Identification and a thorough inspection is required to find
the breeding site. Suspect areas include slimy drains, sewer leaks
or backups, dirty garbage cans, saucers under potted plants, bird
baths or feeders, clogged roof gutters, clogged storm drains, air
conditioners, cooling towers, moist compost, rain barrels, and septic
tanks. In relatively new structures, drains can often be cleaned
out with over-the-counter drain cleaners followed by very hot water.
If this is not successful, mechanical cleaning with a stiff brush
is required to remove the gelatinous film lining followed with a
caustic drain cleaner.
If large numbers of flies are seen, especially upwind from a nearby
sewage treatment plant, the sewage treatment plant could be the
breeding site. If this is the case, treatment of the sewage beds
is necessary.
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