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Interesting information about flea control has just been released by researchers at Ohio State University. In a study that used cat fleas (the most common species of flea to bother family pets), it was consistently found that an average of 96% of adult fleas and 100% of younger flea stages were killed by being sucked through a vacuum cleaner. During the experiment, 95% of adult fleas that were merely placed in a vacuum bag and 98% that were merely placed in circulating air currents survived. The researchers speculated that the vacuum’s brushes damaged the waxy cuticle, or outer layer of the flea, causing them to dehydrate and die.
Flea control efforts often focus on use of insecticides, which can be a quick and effective way of dealing with these pests. However, flea control products can be costly, and some people prefer to avoid the use of chemicals. This research points to another effective way of managing flea problems. The upside of this method is that is inexpensive, and it physically eliminates fleas. The downside of this method is that it is labor-intensive, and requires frequent and thorough vacuuming efforts. Flea eggs and larvae are extremely tiny and tend to fall into cracks and crevices in floors, around baseboards, between cushions, and under furniture, so just a quick once-over of carpets will not be enough. However, if you combine regular vacuuming with the judicious use of flea control products on your pets, you should be able to prevent fleas from getting the upper hand.
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