Fleas & mites · North Arkansas
Inside and out, same visit.
Fleas ride in on pets, but most of them aren't on the pet. They're eggs and cocoons in the carpet, the dog bed and the shady spots in the yard. Treat one place and they come back from the other. Mites are a different group: chiggers in the grass, clover mites on the windowsills, bird mites from a nest in the eaves.
- Flea size
- About 1/8 inch
- Busy season
- Late spring to fall
- Where
- Carpet, pet beds, yard
- Risk
- Bites, itching
Signs
How to tell you've got fleas or mites
- Pets scratching and biting at themselvesEspecially at the base of the tail and the belly.
- Bites around the anklesSmall, itchy red bumps on the lower legs, often after walking through carpet.
- Flea dirtBlack specks in the pet's fur or bedding that turn red on a wet paper towel. That's dried blood.
- Bites at the sock line and waistbandAfter being in tall grass or the woods. Chiggers.
- Tiny red specks on window sillsClover mites crawling in around windows in spring and fall. They leave a red stain when you squish them.
Where they hide
Where they hide
Flea eggs fall off the pet wherever it sleeps: carpet, rugs, couches, the dog bed and the car. The cocoons sit in the carpet fibers and can wait for weeks.
Outside, fleas live in shady, damp spots: under the porch, in the crawlspace, under shrubs and anywhere stray cats, possums or raccoons bed down.
Chiggers live in tall grass, brush and the edge of the woods. Clover mites live in thick lawns right next to the foundation.
Know what you've got
Fleas and the mites we see
Cat flea
Despite the name, it's the flea on most dogs too. Jumps a long way. Can live in a house with no pets for a while after they move out.
Chiggers
Tiny red mite larvae in tall grass. Bites itch for days. Peak in late spring and summer.
Clover mites
Tiny red mites that crawl inside around windows in large numbers in spring and fall. They don't bite, they just stain.
Bird and rodent mites
Show up when birds leave a nest in the eaves or mice die in the walls. Fix the nest or the mice, then treat.
Ticks
Not mites, but close relatives, and a big problem here. Confirm they treat yards for ticks.
Our process
How we treat fleas
Every job starts with a free inspection. Most homes end up on our quarterly plan, which includes free re-treats between visits. See the plans.
Free inspection
We find where the pets sleep, where the fleas are in the yard, and whether wildlife under the house is part of it.
Inside
Carpet, rugs, furniture and pet resting spots, with a product that also stops eggs from hatching into biting adults.
Outside
Shady spots, under the porch and decks, and the crawlspace. A summer flea problem in the yard can often be fixed in one or two treatments.
Follow-up
Cocoons can hatch for a couple of weeks after treatment. We'll tell you when to call us back.
Before we get there
What you can do today
- Treat every pet in the house at the same time, through your vet.
- Vacuum every day for two weeks after treatment and empty the vacuum outside.
- Wash pet bedding in hot water.
- Keep grass mowed and brush cut back to cut down on chiggers.
What not to do
- Don't mop or shampoo carpets for two weeks after treatment.
- Don't treat the pets and skip the house, or the house just reinfests them.
FAQ
Fleas & mites questions
Why am I still seeing fleas after treatment?
Cocoons are protected from treatment. When they hatch, the new fleas land on treated carpet and die, but you may see some for up to two weeks. Keep vacuuming; it makes them hatch sooner.
We moved into a house that's been empty and we're getting bitten. Why?
Flea cocoons can sit in an empty house for months. When people move in, the vibration and body heat make them all hatch at once.
How do I get chiggers out of my yard?
Mow short, cut back brush and clear the edges of the woods near the house. Treating the yard helps in bad years.
Are clover mites dangerous?
No. They don't bite or spread anything. They're a nuisance and leave red stains if you crush them.
Keep reading
Other pests we treat
Think you've got fleas & mites?
We'll come out, find what you've got, and tell you what it takes. No charge, no pressure.