Flea Wars – Interim Report
For years the combination of Frontline Plus and Bengal Flea Killer have kept things under control in my house. The cats were happy and had the run of the house, and I wasn’t getting bit by fleas. That changed this year, as apparently the current fleas are immune to Frontline and Bengal.
My switch to Advantage II appears to have been successful for Excise, so I will apply it to Property in another week. I’m waiting on Property because she was treated with Frontline a little over a week ago and I want that to wear off.
To immediately attack the flea problem I bought three flea traps, one each from: SpringStar, Victor, and Enforcer. All of them work essentially the same way by using a light to attract the fleas that are then stuck on adhesive pads. The good news is that in my house they all work. All of them have managed to trap fleas, a lot of fleas. They each have strengths and weaknesses which I will go into later.
The net result is that my personal ‘bare shin test’ is now resulting in around 10 fleas, instead of the the 50 flea norm two days ago.
I have a recommendation by a neighbor for a spray to replace the Bengal. I will be testing that to see how it works.
4 comments
i’ll be interested to hear about your results, especially if you’re testing cat-proof-nees, although my destructocrew can probably demolish anything.
i’ve been spraying portions of the house, those areas that i can keep cats away from until it dries, with deltamethrin, can’t remember what brand, too lazy to go look at the container.
The SpringStar is the most cat-proof, if you add a couple of piece of tape to hold the grid on, and it is the best looking of the bunch. The Enforcer comes in second because it hangs on the wall from a socket, but if your sockets raise it too high, it’s effectiveness is reduced.
I’m going to start trying out Enforcer Home Flea treatment. It says it works against all stages of fleas, but you have to close off the area until it dries.
i had both of those thoughts. i noticed the website for the enforcer says it works for roaches too, which i have this year along with the fleas.
the good news is that i do seem to have – temporarily at least – rid the crawl space of small furry flea-bearing mammals. i think.
I have the Enforcer at my Mother’s house at the moment, but as she lacks a convenient plug, I used a Command mounting strip to attach an extension cord to the wall where I wanted the trap located and that allowed by to put the bottom on the floor. I know it catches flies and gnats, but she doesn’t have roaches.
My place is high enough above ground level that fleas can’t make the jump.