Free Seminar on Zika virus & Mosquito Management

WHAT:

Information provided on Zika virus, mosquitoes and their management.

WHERE:

1600 Smith Road

Austin, TX 78721

WHEN:

Thursday, September 22nd

10AM– 12PM

Space is limited so reserve your spot soon!

512-854-9606

ebrown@ag.tamu.edu

Fleas

Fleas are ectoparasites and females require a blood meal to produce eggs.  After feeding on a host, females can produce about 30-50 eggs per day that fall off the animal and into carpeting or other areas of the home or outside in areas where the animal frequents.  Larvae feed on organic matter as well as partially digested blood excreted by the adult fleas (yes, I mean poop).  After fleas pupate, they usually hatch out of the cocoon in about 2 weeks, but they can remain dormant for up to 5 months waiting for a host.



Flea breeding habitat...debris in a windowsill.

A proper flea management program has two parts- managing fleas on any pets and managing fleas in the environment.  A veterinarian may be consulted about flea control for pets; there are numerous products on the market that work well.  Grooming the animal with a flea comb or bathing the pet can help reduce flea numbers.  When you find fleas on a pet, you most likely will need to treat the pet, inside the home and the yard.  Treatment should be targeted to areas where the pet likes to hang out.

Fleas in and around homes that do not have pets may be coming from wildlife.  The attic and crawl spaces should be inspected to see if wildlife has moved into the area, bringing fleas with them.  Wildlife should be removed with traps and the area treated with an insecticide labeled for fleas.  After wildlife is removed, the area should be sealed so that wildlife cannot move in again.

It is also possible for new homeowners with no pets to have fleas.  This usually results from previous owners having pets.  Fleas can remain dormant for several months, but become active again when they sense vibrations of new hosts.

Inside, vacuum regularly, getting under furniture and along baseboards to reduce flea eggs, larvae and pupae.  Make sure to dispose of the vacuum bag in sealed bag in an outdoor garbage can at least once a week so the fleas do not hatch out and reinfest the home.  Wash pet bedding in hot water.  Bathe pets regularly and use a flea comb to remove fleas.  Avoid walking pets in known flea infested areas.

Outside, target pesticide treatments to areas where pets frequent.  Full sun areas do not need to be treated as fleas will not remain in those areas.

When treating for fleas, you  need to treat at least two times.  The second treatment should occur 10-14 days after the initial treatment.

Mosquito and mosquito disease information

I know there has been a LOT of talk and information about mosquitoes and diseases they transmit, but I want to gather a bunch of information (from reputable sources) for you to use in case you need it.  So instead of remaking the wheel here, I will be linking to other good sources of information for you to check out.

Mike Merchant's post on Zika virus & NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR TEXANS!

Mike Merchant's post on do-it-yourself thermal fogging for mosquitoes

AgriLife's Mosquitoes of Texas page

City of Austin Vector Control- "The Rodent and Vector Control program assists individual property owners with eradicating mosquitoes and rodents on their property."

Williamson County Mosquito Control District

Hays County Mosquito Surveillance

Texas Mosquito Control Association

TMCA's list of organized mosquito control districts in Texas

CDC information

Zika virus

Chikungunya

Dengue

West Nile Virus

Texas Department of State Health Services information

Zika virus

Chikungunya

Dengue

West Nile Virus