Horrified Brits face a FLEA epidemic as pest control firms see 87 per cent surge in a month… here’s how to rid YOUR home of them
After a mild winter and with a scorching summer on the way, a flea epidemic could be set to hit British homes
WITH summer on the way, Brits are eager to welcome the sunny weather and warm temperatures.
But one horrifying thing the changing season could bring is a flea epidemic in homes across the UK.
Experts are predicting that the tiny critters could blight Brits all summer long - with pest control company Rentokil revealing to the Sun Online that they've already had an 87 per cent surge in calls between February and March.
Year on year, there has also been a 23 per cent increase in people calling the firm after finding the creepy crawlies infesting their bedding, carpets and furniture.
It comes just days after people were warned that a breeding frenzy is going to see record numbers of moths munching their way through Brits' clothes and carpets.
And David Cross, head of the Technical Training Academy at Rentokil, warned that finding fleas on your pet or bites on your body can just be the tip of the iceberg.
He told the Sun Online: "Fleas found on the host typically only represent just five per cent of the total flea population nearby.
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"The other 95 per cent will be in bedding, carpets and furniture."
The flea epidemic has been caused by a much milder winter this year, which allowed for a longer period of ideal conditions for the insects to lay eggs and for them to hatch.
Natalie Bungy, a field officer from the British Pest Control Association revealed that flea larvae (baby fleas) thrive best in humid conditions, which could be on the cards for the UK as scorching temperatures are predicted in the month ahead.
And she told the Sun Online that the best way to avoid a plague of insects infesting your home is to look after your pets and keep on top of your housework.
She said: "If increases in fleas do become apparent then simply ensuring your pets are receiving the proper flea treatments from your vet and regular vacuuming is done, no noticeable increase should be apparent in your home.
The larvae of the cat flea (most common one, also found on dogs) feeds on dust, debris, flakes of skin and fur and dead insects so again, good housekeeping is key to prevent issues."
Natalie also revealed it is bad new for pet owners as they are the most likely to see the creepy crawlies in their homes.
But she added: "They can be brought in to the home if someone else’s pet comes in and drops a few eggs, or in some scenarios we have seen wild animals getting into large commercial buildings and leaving behind a few fleas.
"If you suspect your home has been infested, speak to a professional pest controller by using the BPCA ‘find a pest controller’ service through www.bpca.org.uk."