Probably the most despised pest of all, the flea has survived virtually unchanged over thousands of years.
In medieval times the flea was detested so much that it was actually tried and sentenced to death, that sentence stands today as we try to eliminate this ubiquitous pest from our lives.
It was Miriam Rothschild who discovered the mechanism whereby fleas jump using high-speed photography.
She postulated that fleas evolved from winged ancestors and employed modified flight structures and made the famous comparison when she said fleas jumped as high for fleas as the Empire State Building would be for humans.
Considering that the flea lives most of its life off the animal, as eggs, larvae then pupae, environmental control is just as important as controlling animals on your pets.
The vacuum cleaner and Fipronil Spray are important tools here.
Her groundbreaking work, originally done in the rabbit flea, showing how the flea could co-ordinate its life cycle to that of the host by detecting hormonal changes in the host around parturition, indicated the flea greatly increased its own egg laying capacity as a result of these changes.
Thus the period of greatest flea activity, late spring and early summer, is geared to coincide with the birth of the young of the mammal, the most susceptible to infestation.
This makes killing of fleas in the cat or dog nursery a priority so an efficient chemical that is safe to use in young kittens and puppies, such as fipronil, is what is needed.
Pet Talk is a free newsletter produced and edited by the radio vet, Dr Dennis Scott BVSc MACVSc for the benefit of all people concerned with the health and welfare of their pets, or just interested in animals.
This publication is sponsored by providers of quality pet products Ethical Agents Ltd, TriGene Disinfectant and Fiprovet Spray as well as B Sport, the racing and sport radio station and host of The Animal Show with Dr Denny, 9 am every Sunday.
