Why do they love me so
February 3, 2021 12:42 PM Subscribe
Is it possible that my recurring problems with fleas all stem from an initial infestation in 2018?
In 2018, I moved into a room with a serious flea problem -- the roommates told me that their previous roommate's cat had always been "crawling with fleas." We had an exterminator come, and that solved the immediate issue, but ever since, I've had recurring flea infestations every six months or so. This has persisted through multiple moves, during which I've also replaced my bed and couch. I have always treated them with either an exterminator or Raid flea spray, to similar but equally temporary success.
I know flea larvae can survive a long time, but it's bizarre to me that this might all be the same problem -- and yet, at this point, almost three years later, what else can it be? And if it's the same cycle, is there any way to break it for good?
Some data points:
1. No pets, though some roommates have had pets
2. I know they're not bedbugs, because I'm very allergic to bedbugs, and that reaction would be intense and unmistakable.
3. A dermatologist is confident that they're bug bites and has ruled out hives.
4. This is in the Bay Area.
I'd love to hear from people who have expertise or firsthand experience with this. You can assume I know my basic flea facts.
In 2018, I moved into a room with a serious flea problem -- the roommates told me that their previous roommate's cat had always been "crawling with fleas." We had an exterminator come, and that solved the immediate issue, but ever since, I've had recurring flea infestations every six months or so. This has persisted through multiple moves, during which I've also replaced my bed and couch. I have always treated them with either an exterminator or Raid flea spray, to similar but equally temporary success.
I know flea larvae can survive a long time, but it's bizarre to me that this might all be the same problem -- and yet, at this point, almost three years later, what else can it be? And if it's the same cycle, is there any way to break it for good?
Some data points:
1. No pets, though some roommates have had pets
2. I know they're not bedbugs, because I'm very allergic to bedbugs, and that reaction would be intense and unmistakable.
3. A dermatologist is confident that they're bug bites and has ruled out hives.
4. This is in the Bay Area.
I'd love to hear from people who have expertise or firsthand experience with this. You can assume I know my basic flea facts.
Have you looked into the possibility of insecticide resistance and which control strategies would circumvent that issue? I know that has been a concern with some products used on pets in recent years, and if it’s the same lineage of fleas with the same resistance surfacing for you each time that might be part of the mystery.
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:09 PM on February 3, 2021
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:09 PM on February 3, 2021
(To clarify, I realize you don’t have pets. I just happen to have heard about issues with resistance vis a vis the increased usage of flea control products on pets. But resistance to products used in the house is also something that could happen and might explain what you’re experiencing.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:18 PM on February 3, 2021
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:18 PM on February 3, 2021
We had recurrent flea infestations when I was a kid, but we also had indoor/outdoor cats so fleas come with the terrjtory. We had to stay on top of treating the cats & regularly treating carpets/rugs. If you have been living in housing with crawlspaces... I hate to ask this but have the exterminators looked for rats?
If it is the same infestation over 3 years and several moves where are the eggs/larva living? Presumably you are washing your clothes & bedding... Maybe there is a rug? Maybe time to dry clean any suitcases?
posted by muddgirl at 1:28 PM on February 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
If it is the same infestation over 3 years and several moves where are the eggs/larva living? Presumably you are washing your clothes & bedding... Maybe there is a rug? Maybe time to dry clean any suitcases?
posted by muddgirl at 1:28 PM on February 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
I had a friend who had a flea issue in the Bay Area because a family of foxes nested under her deck. It's there any chance you have other wildlife living in/under/near your home that is causing the flea problem to recur?
posted by vunder at 1:29 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by vunder at 1:29 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Are you in a multilevel building? Do people in other units have pets? They might just be moving around.
Solidarity and good luck from a person who is enormously allergic to fleas, the bites last so long! And itch so much!
posted by Lawn Beaver at 1:37 PM on February 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Solidarity and good luck from a person who is enormously allergic to fleas, the bites last so long! And itch so much!
posted by Lawn Beaver at 1:37 PM on February 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hi, everybody, thanks for your advice and kindness. In answer to a couple of questions, I'm living in a studio apartment now, but the last couple of places I lived were houses that definitely had wildlife problems (one had an overgrown yard we weren't allowed to go into, full of wild cats and such; the other was an attic room where you were never more than 10 feet from a raccoon, one of which punched a hole in the ceiling). And my current place is an older multilevel building with many pets.
I'll learn more about insecticide resistance, which I didn't know about but does make sense. I'm looking into this more deeply right now because my last treatment didn't seem very effective, although it's also true that I don't know if this is the same lineage of fleas I've had before. If it's not, I've just been very unlucky. (Looking over the list I've just described, boy, this is what it's like to live in the Bay Area on a nonprofit salary, I guess.)
posted by thesmallmachine at 1:48 PM on February 3, 2021
I'll learn more about insecticide resistance, which I didn't know about but does make sense. I'm looking into this more deeply right now because my last treatment didn't seem very effective, although it's also true that I don't know if this is the same lineage of fleas I've had before. If it's not, I've just been very unlucky. (Looking over the list I've just described, boy, this is what it's like to live in the Bay Area on a nonprofit salary, I guess.)
posted by thesmallmachine at 1:48 PM on February 3, 2021
I lived in an apartment that had fleas. The landlord replaced the carpet and, coincidentally, it completely eradicated the flea problem! I still had the same bed, couches, etc., so obviously the fleas happened to be reproducing solely in the carpet. By chance is there a large area rug that you bring with you whenever you move?
posted by SageTrail at 2:00 PM on February 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by SageTrail at 2:00 PM on February 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
It’s been a minute since we’ve had them, but the last time our solo indoor cat got them was from an addled wander outside, so they can be “acquired” from shared host common areas, likely wildlife, which can include field mice and other fauna (we see deer, squirrels and an occasional raccoon on the regular) My housing treatments have been treat once, then again 2 weeks later, which does not truly fit the timeline you mention. It could be an interesting ask of your department of natural resources, and while it would be cool to say, call your local entomologist...that’s really not always practical.
A deep-pile carpet with some mice-as-vectors could be the connection, and asking neighbors as part of a friendlier conversation may yield results, too.
posted by childofTethys at 2:44 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
A deep-pile carpet with some mice-as-vectors could be the connection, and asking neighbors as part of a friendlier conversation may yield results, too.
posted by childofTethys at 2:44 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Fleas need a relatively humid environment to flourish. Humidity lower than 50 percent and temperatures higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit will kill flea larvae
I've had pets for the last 35+ years. When fleas turn up, I bathe the dog and wash all bedding. I vacuum really well and empty the vacuum immediately, outdoors, into the garbage. I treat rugs with permethrin powder, which is not toxic to pets of humans, leave the house. come back later, vacuum again. I've had to repeat if I caught an infestation too late, but this has always been successful. I am very allergic to flea bites, so I'm a good early warning for the presence of fleas.
What a massive drag for you. good luck.
posted by theora55 at 3:18 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
I've had pets for the last 35+ years. When fleas turn up, I bathe the dog and wash all bedding. I vacuum really well and empty the vacuum immediately, outdoors, into the garbage. I treat rugs with permethrin powder, which is not toxic to pets of humans, leave the house. come back later, vacuum again. I've had to repeat if I caught an infestation too late, but this has always been successful. I am very allergic to flea bites, so I'm a good early warning for the presence of fleas.
What a massive drag for you. good luck.
posted by theora55 at 3:18 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Some other creature in your proximity has fleas, whether it's mice or rats in the basement/walls, or a pet in another unit. You are going to need your landlord to address the issue in order to solve it because localized treatment in your unit won't help for very long, if at all.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:53 PM on February 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by oneirodynia at 3:53 PM on February 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
back when I lived in San Diego (similar mild climate in terms of moderate temps and humidity that keeps their life cycle going year round) and had cats there was definitely local resistance to common flea treatments and I kept finding flea eggs on dark upholstered things where they would show up. Aggressively treating every upholstered surface and carpets and floorboards with diatomaceous earth did the trick; its mechanism isn't chemical and it is relatively safe compared to chemicals if you take precautions against inhaling it when applying. you have something that is infested and if you dust that thing, maybe more than once to break the reinfection cycle if there are still adults around, your problem will go away unless you have neighbors who have such a bad infestation that there are always more adults near by.
posted by slow graffiti at 4:14 PM on February 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by slow graffiti at 4:14 PM on February 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
When my cats got fleas, they stuck around for a while. I found that dusting with diatomaceous earth was what really got rid of the infestation. The 2lb bag I linked should be plenty for treating a studio apartment, and it's cheap.
If you buy something else, make sure you buy the food grade stuff: it's not really more expensive than the other DE you can buy, but it's safer if it gets onto surfaces you're eating from.
posted by kdar at 4:27 PM on February 3, 2021 [5 favorites]
If you buy something else, make sure you buy the food grade stuff: it's not really more expensive than the other DE you can buy, but it's safer if it gets onto surfaces you're eating from.
posted by kdar at 4:27 PM on February 3, 2021 [5 favorites]
Nthing diatomaceous earth. Bonus, it's also useful for fighting ants.
posted by ktkt at 9:13 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ktkt at 9:13 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Another vote for diatomaceous earth. Bonus - it's not something that bugs develop resistance to, because it works mechanically rather than chemically.
posted by tdismukes at 7:44 AM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by tdismukes at 7:44 AM on February 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
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