Question 1

What Are Flea Traps, And What Do They Do?

Accepted Answer

There are different types of flea traps, and the manufacturers rely on understanding flea biology to trap them. They use a bait that fleas are most attracted to and include a sticky surface to keep the small insects glued once they jump into the bait.

Another type of flea trap is to use soapy water instead. You still have the light trap but instead of a sticky pad for trapping fleas, they land in the water instead. The soapy water reduces the surface tension so they all into the water and drown.

Both of them are forms of light traps as this the ultimate flea trap. It tricks their natural senses and controls your flea population. Let’s talk a little more about commercial and homemade flea traps, and why they work.

Question 2

do the flea trap work?

Accepted Answer

Since fleas mostly move by jumping, the light will attract fleas and they stick on the glue. Although these small insects are mostly attracted to blood, it is next to impossible to use blood to trap them.

Luckily, fleas are also attracted to light.

Therefore, the best flea traps are made with light to lure the insects into them. However, you must note that this type of trap is not entirely effective because not all fleas are attracted to light.

It works mainly for adults. The larva and other tiny fleas will not die, and as you know, these parasites breed very fast. To properly control flea infestations, you want to combine using a trap to catch fleas along with a thorough cleaning process.

Question 3

How To Make A Dish Soap Flea Trap

Accepted Answer

Get A Shallow Dish – Get a shallow container and fill it with water. The best dishes to use are cookie sheets, plates, and pie plates. The container should have a large surface area for holding the water and short sides so that fleas can jump or crawl inside.

Add Dish Soap – Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of dish soap into the container and stir it with your fingers. The soap reduces the water’s surface tension to make the fleas drown because they are too light to drown in plain water. To make the trap more effective, add some baking soda.

Place The Trap In The Infested Areas – The trap won’t be effective if you leave it farther away from where the fleas are. Put the bowl on a towel and place it on the floor. If the insects have infested different rooms, make multiple traps for each place.

Some of the areas to place your trap are on the carpets and rugs, near pet bedding, pillows, and furniture. You can also set it under your bed or next to the window for the fleas on the curtains.

Let The Trap Stay Overnight – Fleas are most active at night, so you will be able to catch most of them if you live the trap overnight. You should leave the bowl undisturbed and away from kids and pets. You can also close the room to reduce the movement of the fleas to other areas.

Place A Lamb Beside The Trap – Fleas are more attracted to light and warmth, so having some light next to the bowl makes it more effective. You can use a bulb or a lamp and leave it near the bowl overnight. Ensure the light shines into the trap so that the fleas can jump towards it and fall in the bowl.

Alternatively, Use A Candle – If you don’t have an extra bulb, you can use a small candle such as a tea light. Place it at the center of the dish and light it. The candle will create a warmth that will attract the fleas. However, place the candle away from the walls and other flammable objects to avoid fires. This may not be ideal if you have pets or young children.

An alternative is to you a battery-powered candle. While not having the same level of heat, you’ll still get many dead fleas with this method.

Question 4

Where Should I Place Flea Traps?

Accepted Answer

To catch the most fleas, you must place the traps in the strategic points.

These are the areas that are most affected by fleas. It is more important if you are using a homemade flea trap that is not equipped with a light. Some of the best areas to place your flea traps are;
Around Pet Beds

Pets are more likely to get fleas because of dirt and extra fur. Therefore, if your home’s source of fleas is pets like dogs and cats, place the bowl around the kennels. The fleas will walk out of the pet’s house at night into the bowl and drown.

However, since fleas are uncomfortable for pets, you can prevent them entirely. Bathe your cats and dogs regularly and flea comb their fur to remove insects. Dip the comb in soapy water after every comb to drown any fleas present. You should also wash them with shampoo and leave them on the skin for a while.
Under Furniture

When fleas invade your house, they will primarily hide in dark places. These places are under the furniture. Putting the flea trap and a lamp around these areas will attract the fleas and drown them before they breed more.
On Carpets

Fleas could fall from your pets onto the rugs and carpets. Besides, their eggs are also small and can easily remain and hatch on the mats. Placing the trap on the carpet ensures you catch as many fleas as possible.

You can also avoid having fleas on your carpet by vacuuming the areas every week. This is more important if you have pets. When you vacuum, the machine will suck all the tiny insects and their larvae. This way, the insect does not have a way of escaping.

You can extend the vacuum to hard-to-reach areas by installing a brush or nozzle. Ensure you also reach under the furniture and lift the rugs to vacuum the other side. Once you are done, remove the bag where the dirt was collected and dispose of it immediately.
Under Shrubs Around The Yard

Another source of fleas into the house is around the shrubs in your yard.

Although the insects are in their habitat, they could start jumping into the house and start breeding. If the yard is a significant source of these insects, place the traps there. Ensure you carry the lamb, and put the heat source away from dry leaves.

Question 5

How Effective Are Light Flea Traps?

Accepted Answer

Light flea traps work, and they are effective. When you place a light bulb in or above the bowl with dish soap or a sticky trap, it attracts the fleas. Some will jump to land on the light but many will drown or get stuck.

However, the light flea trap will only attract the fleas around the furniture, bedding, and yard. They also only attract adult fleas, as the small ones and larvae cannot jump into the water.

Besides, fleas cannot move from the pets to jump onto the light, meaning those on the dogs and cats will continue breeding.

Question 6

How Do Electric Flea Traps Work?

Accepted Answer

Some people are reluctant to use electric flea traps claiming that they don’t work. The truth is, these traps work, but they won’t kill all the fleas in the house.

Electric flea traps are made using the biological facts about fleas. Since the insects mostly live on bodies and feed on blood, they are attracted to warm areas. Besides, they also seem to like lights with specific colors.

Electric flea trap manufacturers set up the traps with a heat source to attract insects. As they draw closer, the fleas think a warm-blooded animal is around that area and move close. The trap is also fitted with glue. So, when the parasite jumps to land on the animal, but they miss, they are trapped in the glue.

However, for these traps to work, you have to set them in all areas around the house. Avoid including other products like insecticides.

Some people don’t use electric flea traps because they only catch adult fleas. Besides, these adults make up the minor population in fleas, with most insects being the small ones and larvae that are not attracted to light and warmth.

All in all, flea traps are a great way to control fleas, but aren’t the complete solution. If you want to get rid of these insects all at once, use other pest control methods like vacuums and insecticides. You can also hire a professional to fumigate your house but that is costly and probably not needed.

Question 7

How To Get Rid Of Fleas Using Traps

Accepted Answer

Once you set up your trap and leave it overnight, empty it in the morning. Ensure you refill the bowl with a fresh mixture of water and dish soap to trap the fleas, or use new stick tabs. You can repeat the procedure every day until you stop catching more fleas.

You can also use indoor plants to trap the fleas. Place the plant beside the trap. When the plant produces carbon dioxide, the fleas think that there is a host. They could jump to land on the plant but miss and get into the water.

You can also use a vacuum to get rid of fleas. When you vacuum the couches, carpet, and rugs, you will trap the big, small, and larvae form of the fleas. Once you finish vacuuming, dispose of the paper where the dirt was collected in an area you are sure the insects won’t come out. You can alternatively burn the paper.

A flea infestation can be troublesome and a headache, and you don’t have to wait until you notice one or two fleas. One of the preventive measures to avoid these parasites is maintaining cleanliness. You can keep your pets groomed, wash them every week and trim and comb their fur.

How Do Flea Traps Work?

Why you can trust us

Understanding Your Enemy: The Flea

The Fundamentals of Flea Trap

The Attraction Strategy

The Capture Mechanism

The Various Types of Flea Trap

Benefits of Using Flea Traps

Getting the Most Out of Your Flea Trap

A Few Considerations Before You Trap

Conclusion

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