Before discussing the best pest control for fleas, it’s important to note that there are two types of fleas found killing pets and domestic fauna. The first type is the dog or cat flea, which is fairly easy to see biting or hopping on a pet. The second type of flea is the human flea. This nasty bugger lives on its host’s blood, and using its long proboscis-like structure (around 1/5th of the body’s length), the human flea feeds on mammalian blood, usually found in humans. You’re not alone. Mosquitoes are annoying and dangerous. I’ve heard of stories where these blood-suckers have given people all sorts of diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and Zika. For most people, the best pest control for fleas is an exterminator or some type of spray, but if you’re on a budget and can’t afford professional help, there are ways to control fleas on your own. Many people have flea problems year round. These pests can cause irritation and itchy spots on your dog or cat before spreading to you or the rest of your family. You will want to treat your pet as well as home, so they do not come back.
Best Pest Control For Fleas
What Are Pesticides For Fleas?
In the simplest terms, a pesticide is any substance that is designed or intended to kill or destroy pests.
Technically, raccoons, skunks, foxes, snakes, and other small animals and birds can be classified as pests, but in general, pesticides are thought of as insecticides.
In this discussion, we will use the two words interchangeably as any substance that kills fleas and is used to control a flea infestation.
An insecticide that kills fleas which have already hatched will not kill unhatched fleas still in their eggs, nor will it substantially harm the pupae.
In order to eradicate a flea problem (sometimes fleas even end up in your carpets), you’ll need to use something in addition to a regular pesticide. That something is called an Insect Growth Regular, or IGR.
To fully understand the need for an IGR, you need to know something about the flea life cycle.
Adult Fleas
The most common flea is the cat flea. Adult fleas are about 3mm in length, colored reddish-brown or black, and wingless. They have strong hind legs like a grasshopper for jumping.
Like a bed bug or mosquito, the female requires fresh blood in order to produce flea eggs. After a blood meal, the female can lay 1-2 eggs per hour.
Adult fleas can live in any crack or crevice in your home, along the baseboards, in the cushions of your furniture upholstery, and any sleeping area such as your bed or your pet’s bedding or kennel.
Flea Eggs
Flea eggs are white ovals about half a millimeter in diameter. If the female lays her eggs on your pet, they will fall off since they are not sticky and will not adhere to your pet’s skin or hair.
This is why vacuuming is one of the first things you should do when beginning a flea treatment, to collect and get rid of the eggs. During this stage, fleas are essentially immune to pesticides.
Larvae
Flea larvae hatch from the eggs after a couple of days. They resemble tiny, semi-transparent worms about 1-5 millimeters long. They will eat any organic residue on the floor but the main part of their diet is fecal matter from adult fleas.
This is another reason for vacuuming, to eliminate their food source. They will go through several growth stages, called instars, getting larger each time until they are ready for the next step in their life cycle.
Pupae
The final stage of the flea life cycle is the pupae stage when they spin a silky cocoon around themselves. The outside of the cocoon is very sticky, attracting all kinds of dirt and debris, which camouflages them.
It is very difficult for pesticides to penetrate the cocoon. When they emerge from the cocoon they will be adult fleas and the whole cycle starts over again.
During half of their life cycle, fleas are exempt from any pesticide, flea control products, flea collars, flea shampoos, or essential oils you use. Flea products, no matter what they are, won’t be able to hurt them.
Read more: How long can fleas live without a host?
How Do Pesticides For Fleas Work?
There are two basic kinds of pesticides; insecticides containing active ingredients that kill the fleas and insecticides containing IGR chemicals such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen.
An IGR will interfere with the growth cycle of the fleas, either preventing them from molting properly from one instar to the next or accelerating their growth too fast for them to sexually mature. Either way, the end result is the same – birth control for bugs.
The other pesticides have active ingredients such as permethrin, which is one of the pyrethrins. Fipronil and imidacloprid are other active ingredients that kill fleas.
Any pesticide that lists one of these chemicals on the label as the active ingredient will be a flea killer. They all work by slightly different methods, some by attacking the central nervous system and others by focusing on the muscles.
The best flea insecticides though are the pyrethroids.
Pyrethroids include:
- Permethrin
- Bifenthrin
- Cypermethrin
- Cyfluthrin
- Cyhalothrin
- Deltamethrin
- Esfenvalerate
- Tetramethrin
- Bioallethrin
How Do You Find The Best Pesticides For Fleas?
When purchasing insecticides, scrutinize the label. The EPA requires the active ingredients, along with other information, to be listed on the label.
The common name, as well as the chemical name, will be listed showing what percentage of the total product the active ingredient accounts for
- Up to 12 month protection (against ants, roaches and spiders indoors on nonporous surfaces)
- Kills all common listed household bugs (refer to product label for complete list of insects)
- Non staining, odor free and dries fast
- Long lasting bug barrier
- Ready to use 24 oz. sprayer for small areas or 1 gal. ready to use trigger sprayer for larger areas
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 8.95 Inches |
| Width | 12 Inches |
| Length | 4.88 Inches |
- Ortho Home Defense Max Indoor Insect Barrier kills and prevents insects inside your home (12-month control for ants, roaches & spiders indoors on non-porous surfaces)
- KILL LISTED INSECTS FAST: Kills all common household bugs like ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, scorpions, beetles, earwigs, silverfish, centipedes, millipedes, and other listed insects
- INDOOR USE: Apply wherever insects are: in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, around doors and windows; spray the hard to reach places where bugs are a recurring problem
- USE WITH CONFIDENCE: Dries up to 30% faster (vs. other Ortho formulas) and leaves no stains or fumes; people and pets may enter treated areas after spray has dried
- EASY TO APPLY: Extended Reach Comfort Wand, now with 2X the reach (vs. other Ortho Comfort Wands) helps reduce back bending and hand fatigue with its one-touch continuous stream delivery — no pumping required
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Width | 9 Inches |
| Length | 5 Inches |
| Weight | 8.98 Pounds |
- 2 IN 1 LED Insect Lamp – Patented blue and white LED light equipped with High/Low light setting (4 modes) to attract creepy fleas, roaches, moths, flies, other flying/crawling pests to jump into the glue disc. Non-chemical solution to your flea/bug treatment.
- USB Powered Flea Trap – Run the trap by 3.9ft-long USB cable (INCLUDED) and connect to a DC 5V AC plug (NOT INCLUDED), or any standard USB sockets or mobile power supply.
- Get It Start In Seconds – The updated LED light fixture shall set you free from burdensome bulbs replacement. Disassemble-Refill-Assemble-Plug easy 4 steps to get the flea lamp work.
- More Easy-to-go – There is ON/OFF switch on top for easy set up, Micnaron fly trap is cute (Measured only 5.7” diameter) and portable USB powered design allow for easy carrying when travelling.
- Safe & Economical – The “sticky” is non-toxic and washes off easily in case nosey little fingers/paws get into it. Place it on the floor (Recommended) where pets stay most. Each flea trap include 5 sticky disc to guarantee the persistent flea control.
Additional Info :
| Color | White |
- 💥NONTOXIC. KID SAFE. FAMILY SAFE. Six Feet Under is made of non-toxic ingredients and is safe for use in homes and around food. NOTE: Six Feet Under Kills on contact and has minimal residual effect after 1 hour.
- 💥POWERFULLY POTENT and FAST ACTING FORMULA with no harsh chemicals. Protect your home from the destructive behavior of insects with this pest control spray and natural ant killer. Works well with Dr. Killigan’s Pantry Moth Traps and Dr. Killigan’s Clothing Moth Traps.
- 💥SWEET AROMA of cinnamon with a touch of clove. Smells and fragrances can be a real challenge to get right in insect sprays. Subtle is usually better, and with Six Feet Under, subtle is what you get.
- 💥PET FRIENDLY – Six Feet Under is a natural indoor pest control solution and pet safe bug spray. SFU is safe to spray on your pets for natural flea and tick control – safe when used as directed. Kills all stages of the life cycle. A great natural flea killer and bug spray.
- 💥EFFECTIVELY KILLS – Natural clove and cottonseed oils eliminate ants, pantry moths, clothes moths, flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes, roaches, ticks, fleas, earwigs, silverfish, and more. This is how to get rid of bugs naturally. Dr. Killigan. Killing Them Softly.
Additional Info :
- KILLS & REPELS. A preventative and a treatment, this pet-safe insect spray kills and repels indoor pests and keeps your home pest-free. Kills flying, crawling, biting and stinging pests including ants, roaches, spiders, flies, fleas, ticks, wasps, scorpions, mosquitoes, fruit flies, silverfish, moths, gnats, carpet beetles, earwigs, palmetto bugs, waterbugs.
- PROTECT YOUR HOME. This versatile bug control spray is also an indoor flea treatment and flea killer for your home. It kills fleas in carpet, furniture, bedding and flooring, and eliminates adults, eggs, and larvae in the home without staining.
- SAFE FOR DOGS & CATS. Pet-friendly, this spray is gentle enough to use several times a week around your loved ones, throughout the house, yet powerful enough to fully eliminate pests and provide lasting defense of your household from invading insects.
- PLANT-BASED AND POWERFULLY EFFECTIVE. Using natural essential oils, this spray is a safe alternative to electronic bug zappers, lights, traps, powders, granules and conventional pesticides. No artificial colors, fragrances or harsh chemicals. Biodegradable. Cruelty-Free.
- EASY-TO-USE. This eco-friendly biopesticide can be sprayed easily around the home, throughout the kitchen, bathroom, and any other living areas. Simply spray around windows, doors, baseboards, under sinks, in cabinets, and around appliances. Works great for dog kennels and cat condos, too! Spray as often as desired for a pest-free home. Made in the USA from naturally-derived ingredients and safe around children. Safe when used as directed.
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 10.5 Inches |
| Width | 3.7 Inches |
| Length | 3.4 Inches |
| Weight | 3 Pounds |