Will Cold Weather Kill Fleas?
Fleas are pests. These tiny insects cause people, their pets and other animals to itch, scratch and sometimes get sick. Many people hope that as winter approaches, the cold weather will kill the fleas. Cold weather does kill some fleas. Adult fleas often die if exposed to temperatures under 40 degrees F. Cold weather does not kill fleas that are sheltered from cold. Fleas in the larva and pupa or cocoon stage can survive winter. Cold weather is not a reliable flea control.
History
Fleas are small, wingless, blood-feeding insects. They commonly infest domestic pets and can infect animals and people with parasites and diseases. Fleas have no wings but can jump up to 200 times their own length. They feed off the blood of birds and animals. They have a tough body and are hard to kill. The Food and Drug Administration reports that a flea can bite a pet more than 400 times in a day.
Significance
Fleas are most active in spring and autumn. They thrive in humid climates with moderate temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees F. Adult fleas usually die in freezing temperatures, and their immature offspring are dormant until temperatures warm. Weather too hot, too dry or too cold causes fleas to be less active and can mislead people into thinking the fleas are dead or no longer in the area. Fleas can survive all year inside a home protected from extreme temperatures.
Types
Over 2,000 species of fleas are known. The most common fleas have four life stages. An adult flea lays up to 50 eggs each day. Eggs drop into carpet, bedding, soil or pet hair. The egg hatches in 2 days or in several weeks depending on favorable environment. A larva emerges and in 1 to 2 weeks spins into a cocoon as a pupa. It remains in this stage for a few days or for over 1 year until conditions are right to emerge as an adult flea.
Misconceptions
Many people believe that fleas are killed by cold weather. They think that if they keep their pet inside, the animal will not be exposed to fleas. Because fleas in various stages can survive cold weather, fleas are often brought into the house on shoes. When people walk through grass or soil where flea eggs, larva or pupa are dormant, these dormant stages can be tracked into the house where warm conditions cause the fleas to mature as adults.
Prevention/Solution
Treat flea problems as a year-round nuisance. A University of California study showed that vacuuming picks up over 90 percent of adult fleas. The vacuum must be promptly emptied to keep fleas from hatching in the vacuum. Fleas need moisture. Apply a desiccant to carpets to dehydrate the fleas. Use a commercial product or sprinkle diatomaceous earth, then vacuum after 1 week. This kills many insects, including fleas. Follow veterinary guidelines for treating pets against fleas.
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