Flea season: How to spot early warning signs of the insects in your home
Brits are being warned to look out for fleas this month as the blood-sucking insects could invade millions of homes.
The experts at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk are helping homeowners identify whether or not their homes are infested with fleas with eight common warning signs.
With temperatures starting to dip, many Brits will be turning their heating on to cope with the colder conditions. This can result in clusters of fleas invading homes across the country, as the tiny insects thrive in warm and humid conditions.
The early warning signs of fleas in homes include tiny specs on the carpet, itchy bumps on the skin and pets scratching themselves more than usual.
Nic Shacklock from Online-bedrooms.co.uk said: "As we get further into the autumn season we want to warn people not to be surprised if their homes are invaded by packs of fleas. They don't just latch onto pets, they can also give us nasty bites that'll have us itching uncontrollably. Some early warning signs that indicate your home is infested by fleas include excessive scratching from pets and and small, red splashes appearing on bedding. If you find fleas in your home, we advise using baking soda as well as a solvent of lemons, white vinegar and water on areas where they've been present."
Here are eight early warning signs that fleas are in your home:
- Red itchy bumps
If you notice red, itchy bumps on your body it's likely fleas have either been biting you throughout the day or have been lurking in the covers at night. Or if you have a four-legged friend at home, they may have latched onto your skin.
- Excessive scratching from pets
The most common warning sign of fleas is pets scratching themselves. Make sure to regularly check their fur and take off their collar to get a proper look.
- Dark speckles on the carpet
Fleas like to attach to carpet fibres and can bury themselves deep in the material. If you have a lightly coloured carpet and notice dark speckles dotted around, you could have an infestation on your hands.
- Flea eggs
Look out for tiny white flea eggs which may be dotted around the house. If you find flea larvae in carpets it may be a sign of newly hatched eggs.
- Pets avoiding their beds
If your dog or cat starts to avoid sleeping in their bed or looks physically uncomfortable, it might be due to fleas attaching to the material.
- Red splashes on bedding
Fleas can be difficult to spot at times, but if you notice unusual red splashes of blood on your bedding it may be that one of the insects has been squished. This could indicate that your bed is harbouring the tiny critters.
- Jumping fleas
While small in size, fleas that jump can be easier to spot. If you see black spots leaping in the air, it's likely to be fleas rather than tiny flies floating around the house.
- Bald patches on your pets
If you notice missing fur and bald patches appearing on your pets' skin, it may be an indicator that fleas have latched onto them. The excessive scratching can be a cause of this so make sure to put a comb through their fur to detect any signs of the critters.
