How to recognize it
- Tiny dark insects that jump when disturbed on pet bedding or ankles
- Pets scratching, especially around the tail and belly
- Small red bites on ankles and lower legs
- Black specks of flea dirt in a pet’s coat or on bedding
Fleas in GTA homes
Fleas are tiny jumping insects that ride indoors on pets. In Greater Toronto Area homes the adults bite people around the ankles, while eggs and pupae sit in carpets, pet bedding and sofa creases. They do not damage the building. The bites continue for weeks if the eggs in the carpet keep hatching.
What damage it causes
- Bites on people and ongoing scratching on pets
- No chewing of wood, fabric structure or wiring
- Eggs and pupae in carpet and furniture that hatch after the adults are gone
- A problem that returns if the pet is not treated at the same time as the home
Where it lives
- Carpets, rugs and the cracks between floorboards where pets sleep
- Pet beds, sofas and chairs
- Yards and shady rest spots, then indoors on the pet
- Houses with dogs or cats across the GTA, most noticeably in warmer months
Questions about fleas
Why are fleas still biting after the pets were treated?
Eggs and pupae in the carpet and furniture hatch over the following weeks. The home and every pet need attention together, or the new adults jump back onto the animal.
Where do fleas lay eggs in a house?
Wherever the pet rests: carpets, the pet bed, and the creases of a sofa. The eggs fall off the animal. They are not glued to the skin.