I'm beginning to think we've just got an overall bug problem.
Every spring, the ants move in...and move in...and move in. I've finally got that problem nailed down with the liquid Terro ant baits. Yeah, for the first two days, it seems like the bait is attracting them rather than killing them, but by the fourth day, the only ants I see are the dead ones floating in the bait liquid (which doesn't seem to deter latecomers a month later).
Since last summer, we've had an issue with trying to control a roach population that moved in when a nasty neighbor was evicted...well, we have the stuff together to (hopefully) get that licked: Ortho indoor spray for around the baseboards (and behind them, and behind the stove and cabinets), and some gel bait in a tube. Hopefully, this will finally do the trick.
And now? We have fleas. Yes, we doctored all of the animals, but either the dog's isn't working, or she just brings them in when we bring her in for the night. Because one day, we didn't seem to have any, and the next, we had jillions.
In any case, they seem to be everywhere: nesting in the carpet, in the furniture, in the dirty clothes that the kids leave on the floor in the bathroom...in the bath mats, towels, and my terrycloth bathrobe.
One of the remedies I've seen involves a lot of vacuuming, and making sure to take the vacuum outside before you remove the bag...but.
But my vacuum is a bag-less. And the cup doesn't fit tightly enough that the fleas couldn't get out. And that's assuming that they didn't latch onto the filter and wait.
We have a flea spray that's supposed to be safe for children and pets when it dries. It seems to have worked on Odysseus's chair, and on the couch...but the living room carpet needs it, around my chair needs it, and probably the kids' bedrooms' carpets. It's a lot of dancing around, because it takes at least an hour to dry.
Tomorrow would be a good chance to nail the imp's carpet--it's his last day of pre-K class until the 7/7-7/10 session. The pixie is a lot more difficult, since she's here with us all the time.
But we do have a plan in place. I just wish it was easier to carry out.
44 minutes ago
You might have to use an insect bomb. Load up the family and pets; leave for a few hours.
ReplyDeleteThe granules you can broadcast in your yard help, also. When broadcast, and then watered, they kill the critters before they reach your home.
...and I have to add that some years bring extra tenacious flea populations. Even the best of efforts are only efforts in futility.
ReplyDeleteBug bombs are a last resort, and research suggests that they're not really effective, since bugs crawl into crevices that the crap doesn't get to.
DeleteI'd say move, but that's easier said than done, plus don't you two have the place paid off?
ReplyDeleteSounds Like Jess has you covered there. Although I'd bomb the place several times once a week or so to make sure you have killed any eggs that were there and hatched after the previous bombing.
I do know with dogs ( from experience ) that starting with a very tiny amount and gradually increasing you can use garlic powder on their food. We did this with several liters of puppies and it kept the fleas off. The fleas can't stand it once the dog gets a build up in their system.
And I didn't see any vampires around for that period either.
Yeah, we've got it paid off. I ain't leaving this place to the bugs, damn it.
DeleteWe're trying the flea spray first. If we must take harsher actions, then we'll figure things out as needed. But garlic is toxic for all dogs, and is especially toxic for Scotty dogs.
Looking it up online it seems to be 50/50 split on the garlic thing. We never had problems with it. But I wish you guys well at any rate, I know the fleas make everyone miserable.
DeleteWe've been using one of the stronger (and expensive) flea and tick treatments for both the cats and dogs. It seems to work, especially since your pooch likes the outdoors so much.
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest of the house, all I can suggest is frequent and repeated treatments. Killing the adults and nymphs is easy. The eggs? Not so much.
That's what we've done. And will be doing. I just hope it works.
DeleteIt can get pricey and a bit of work but flea bombs are the best. Take the time to position the cans at the right height and use enough to treat your house all at the same time (one can per so many square feet.) I've done it at my house and my parents'. I'd place newspaper under the cans to cover table surfaces and then run through the houses holding my breath as I set them off.
ReplyDeleteRepeat once a week for two more weeks.
Use really good drops on all your pets every month (not the cheap knock offs.) Once treated if they pick up more fleas those fleas will die soon enough after making contact with the pets' skin.
Good luck.
The spray we've been using seems to work; however, I have a lot more cleaning to do, because they're hiding behind my chair, and behind my husband's.
DeleteConcur on the bug bombs... That is about the ONLY way I know to actually eradicate them, short of a professional exterminator...
ReplyDeleteThe spray worked. And is supposed to kill eggs and larvae for up to seven months.
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