Fleas are easily the most common external parasite of both cats and dogs. A female flea will suck up to 15 times her own weight in blood before she lays her first egg. After this she will lay up to 50 eggs every day. The eggs are laid on your pet, and then fall off before they hatch. The next generation will spend their time in carpet or grass waiting for a host..
Every one you can catch means a lot less eggs will be laid.
Here are some ideas for inexpensive flea trap designs which are easy to make.
Catch 50 Fleas in one night
This flea trap design drowns the fleas. It uses soap to reduce the surface tension of the water so they don't float on the surface.
An LED night light attracts the fleas towards the trap
Image via Instructables website.
You probably already have all the components for this trap
This simple to make flea trap uses items that you probably have at home anyway.
A tealight is used in the design which means you'll have a naked flame unattended in your home. It would be better to look for an alternate light source.
Image via Pestwiki website.
Easy home made flea trap
Like all the other traps, this trap uses a light in a darkened room to attract fleas.
The fleas move towards the light and are trapped in the water.
Some soap is needed to break the surface tension so the flea can sink through the surface and drown
Image via Trap Anything website.
HOMEMADE FLEA POWDER
If you would prefer not to use a flea trap or you want to accelerate the results you get from using flea traps, this flea powder could be the answer.
The ingredients and recipe are shown on the Mommypotamus website and the article also lists essential oils which are useful in repelling fleas. Most of them can be used to make a home made bug spray.
It goes through the individual ingredients of the powder explaining the purpose of each.
Image via Mommypotamus website.
Flea traps should not be used in isolation. Wash your dogs's coat carefully with soapy water to remove any fleas that may already be on him.
Use several flea traps, putting them in areas of greatest infestation.
Bear in mind that a flea trap will only kill adult fleas. It will not kill eggs or larvae.
Sometimes, the flea infestation will be so bad that there will be no alternative but to call a pest specialist.
