Straight answers from a licensed New York exterminator and Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) — serving all five boroughs, in English and Spanish.
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Quick answer: Fleas are tiny, wingless, laterally flattened insects that jump and feed on the blood of pets and people. They are usually introduced by pets or wildlife and cause itchy bites, and can transmit tapeworms and, historically, more serious diseases. Getting rid of fleas requires treating the pet with veterinary guidance, vacuuming, and using insect growth regulators and adulticides on the environment — with follow-up, because the protected pupal stage resists many treatments.
What do fleas look like?
Fleas are very small — about 1/8 inch — wingless, and dark reddish-brown, with bodies flattened side to side that let them move easily through fur. They have powerful hind legs for jumping and piercing-sucking mouthparts for blood feeding. The cat flea is the species most often found on both cats and dogs and is the most common household flea.
Signs of a flea infestation
The first sign is usually a pet scratching more than normal. Look for fast-moving dark insects in the fur, flea dirt (dark specks of digested blood that turn reddish when wetted), and itchy bites on people, typically clustered around the ankles and lower legs. Combing a pet over a white surface will reveal fleas and flea dirt.
Are fleas dangerous?
Flea bites cause itching and, in sensitized pets and people, allergic dermatitis. Fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets and, historically, more serious diseases such as murine typhus. Heavy infestations can even cause anemia in kittens and puppies.
Biology and the flea life cycle
Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Eggs laid on the host fall into the environment, larvae develop in carpet and bedding feeding on debris and adult flea feces, and the pupa is protected in a cocoon that resists many insecticides before the adult emerges to find a host. This protected pupal stage is why flea problems seem to return after treatment.
How to get rid of fleas
Effective flea control treats the pet and the environment together: treat all pets under veterinary guidance; vacuum thoroughly (carpets, rugs, under furniture, along baseboards) to remove eggs and larvae and stimulate pupae to emerge, then dispose of the bag; and apply insect growth regulators and adulticides to the environment as labeled. Because of the resistant pupal stage, follow-up treatment is essential to break the life cycle.
When to call a professional
Flea infestations can be stubborn because of the protected pupal stage and the need to treat both the pet and the environment. A professional program coordinates environmental treatment with veterinary pet care and follow-up to clear the infestation.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Flea FAQ
How do I know if I have fleas?
Signs include pets scratching, small fast-moving dark insects in fur, flea dirt (dark specks that turn red when wetted), and itchy bites clustered around ankles and lower legs. Combing pets over a white surface reveals fleas and flea dirt.
Are fleas dangerous?
Flea bites cause itching and allergic reactions, and fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets and, historically, more serious diseases such as murine typhus. Heavy infestations can cause anemia in small animals.
How do you get rid of fleas?
Treat pets under veterinary guidance, vacuum thoroughly (including under furniture and along baseboards), and apply insect growth regulators and adulticides to the environment as labeled. Follow-up is essential because the protected pupal stage resists many products.
Why do fleas keep coming back after treatment?
Flea pupae are protected in cocoons and resist many insecticides, then emerge later. This is why vacuuming, insect growth regulators, and follow-up treatment are needed to break the cycle.
Can I get fleas without pets?
Yes. Fleas can be introduced by wildlife, rodents, or the pets of previous occupants, and can bite people even in homes without pets.
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