Weird flea (?) problem in flat - how to get rid of them without chemicals?

cashferret

I've lived in my flat for many years with no insect problems apart from carpet moths (now well under control). But a few months ago, I had what looked like fleabites appear on my lower legs - not many, maybe one a day or so for about five days in a row.

I have no pets and pets never come into the flat, but I've read that flea-eggs can be carried in on people's shoes.

I bought one of those flea-traps that consist of a sticky pad with a light bulb shining down on it, and moved around the flat, trying to detect any fleas, but nothing showed up on it.

I never saw a flea jumping around anywhere, either.

After about five days, it was all over and I got no more bites.

But two days ago, I started getting bites again - mostly on my ankles and some on my side, just above the waist.

If this is fleas, will they die because they might be cat-fleas or dog-fleas or something and can't live on a human?

If this is fleas and they can live on me :eek:, is it possible to get rid of them without chemicals? I have no choice but to avoid the sort of chemicals used for pest-control because of a health condition.

I still haven't seen any fleas...

(Edit: I have a bagless hoover, and am wondering one with a bag is necessary if hoovering is part of the solution.)

(Edit: The problem may not be fleas! See my new post.)

sevenhills

cashferret wrote: »

But two days ago, I started getting bites again - mostly on my ankles and some on my side, just above the waist.

It does not seem like fleas from a pet, maybe you have bought an item of furniture second hand?

cashferret

sevenhills wrote: »

It does not seem like fleas from a pet, maybe you have bought an item of furniture second hand?

No, I haven't bought any furniture for many years.

I buy second-hand clothing sometimes, though... :eek:

Norman_Castle

cashferret wrote: »

If this is fleas, will they die because they might be cat-fleas or dog-fleas or something and can't live on a human?

If this is fleas and they can live on me :eek:, is it possible to get rid of them without chemicals? I have no choice but to avoid the sort of chemicals used for pest-control because of a health condition.

Fleas don't live on people, they hop on to feed then hop off. They live in the carpet.

I've treated minor infestations by spraying areas of the carpet where I don't walk. Under furniture or the edges of the room. The fleas pass through the areas as they move around the room and are poisoned. Obviously this uses chemicals but only in limited amounts.

cashferret

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Fleas don't live on people, they hop on to feed then hop off. They live in the carpet.

Oh no!

I wonder where they've been for the last few months, though. And why I got multiple bites, starting two days ago - would that have been one flea biting me a lot, or several fleas coming to life simultaneously? If the latter, I wonder why?

I've treated minor infestations by spraying areas of the carpet where I don't walk. Under furniture or the edges of the room. The fleas pass through the areas as they move around the room and are poisoned. Obviously this uses chemicals but only in limited amounts.

That's a clever idea to minimise the use of chemicals but I wouldn't dare do even that, unfortunately. I need to tackle this without the chemicals.

rach_k

To get the pedantic bit out of the way, everything is made up of chemicals. I assume you mean 'nasty' or harsh chemicals.

Yes, you can get rid of fleas with more skin-friendly methods but they're generally not as quick and easy! You could try diatomaceous earth, which is something like crushed up fossilised sea creatures. It's a very fine powder that shouldn't affect humans but for insects it basically shreds them and dries them out so they die. The problem with it is that it's powder and you need to get it everywhere there might be fleas/moths/carpet beetles etc, and it will also kill insects you might be okay with like spiders. You need to get the food grade stuff to really know it's safe, and when you apply it (by sprinkling it everywhere!) you should wear a dust mask until it settles. It's fine after that. Then you leave it down until the life cycle is complete... so you'll be living in dust!

Then you need to hoover it up. I wouldn't use your normal hoover, get a cheap/old one you don't mind ruining, at least until you get the bulk of it up.

I sound like I really hate the stuff! I don't, I've used it for carpet beetles and moths and it's great with kids and pets around, but messy. If we had a flea infestation, I think I'd just bite the bullet and get a flea spray/bomb and vacate the house for a day or two.

cashferret

rach_k wrote: »

To get the pedantic bit out of the way, everything is made up of chemicals. I assume you mean 'nasty' or harsh chemicals.

Yes, indeed.

Yes, you can get rid of fleas with more skin-friendly methods but they're generally not as quick and easy! You could try diatomaceous earth, which is something like crushed up fossilised sea creatures. It's a very fine powder that shouldn't affect humans but for insects it basically shreds them and dries them out so they die. The problem with it is that it's powder and you need to get it everywhere there might be fleas/moths/carpet beetles etc, and it will also kill insects you might be okay with like spiders. You need to get the food grade stuff to really know it's safe, and when you apply it (by sprinkling it everywhere!) you should wear a dust mask until it settles. It's fine after that. Then you leave it down until the life cycle is complete... so you'll be living in dust!

Then you need to hoover it up. I wouldn't use your normal hoover, get a cheap/old one you don't mind ruining, at least until you get the bulk of it up.

Thank you, that's very interesting. How long do you need to leave it on for?

Is it necessary to shift heavy furniture to put the earth under things, or won't the fleas have got there?

Will the earth all come out of the carpets when I finally hoover it up?

Is there anyone who will do this professionally? (I'm not well and would find this very difficult.)

If we had a flea infestation, I think I'd just bite the bullet and get a flea spray/bomb and vacate the house for a day or two.

Out of the question for me, I'm afraid.

cashferret

I'm also wondering if this is a time-sensitive situation. It's as though a bunch of adult fleas have just woken up and fed on me - and so presumably have just laid eggs, which will become larvae in 1-10 days (according to Google), at which point they might be harder to vacuum up?

cashferret

Just googling on how much diatomaceous earth I'd need and came across this scary story:

https://ask.metafilter.com/271947/Applied-too-much-diatomaceous-earth-to-carpet-Now-what

Wondering if I can get professionals in to do this?

david1951

I've not experienced (or heard of) an infestation that doesn't involve a domestic pet. Although they can feed off humans, pet fleas don't particularly like doing it and in order to become an adult flea (and lay eggs) my understanding is that they need to spend a bit of time in the pet fur to grow enough to do this. The eggs then usually fall off into the carpet, turn to larvae (which you will never see) and then 'pulpae'.

At the pulpae stage they basically hibernate for weeks/months in a protective coccoon. This is pretty much impenetrable (even for most insecticides) and they only come out when they sense a host (i.e., upon movement and heat). At that stage they might come into contact with insecticide (if you've laid some) and die.

So, if they are pet fleas then my understanding is they will eventually die away if there is no pet. Due to the pulpae stage (a great example of evolution in action...) they can be a nightmare.

If not, they might be a different type of flea (or bed bugs??). Speak to a local exterminator. Ours sorted our pet flea problem out almost immediately, and without needing to use a bug bomb etc.

shortcrust

I had fleas when I moved in to my house - I don't have pets but the previous owners had a herd of cats. From my experience if you have fleas you see fleas. The last bite I had was around six months after moving in.

In my previous house I'd occasionally find the odd flea which I think I brought in from running in the local woods. It's amazing how many bites you can get from a single flea if it manages to get in your bed!