Fleas and Flea Management - Urban Insect Pests: Sustainable Management Strategies - page 96

etc., but were also fed by some of the staff
and visitors to the mall. Eventually the
noise, smell and occasional fl eas arising
from the growing number of cats were
considered too intrusive and a decision was
taken to remove the cats. The cats' entrance
points into the engineering areas were
sealed and a pest controller discretely
trapped the cats, some of which were
neutered and re-housed, and the rest were
humanely despatched by a veterinarian.
Staff working in the mall began to
complain of fl ea bites, however, and over
the 2-3 months after removal of the cats
around 50 reports of fl ea biting were
received. The fl eas were identifi ed as
C. felis , and the pest controller then treated
large parts of the mall with a pyrethroid and
IGR combination product before the prob-
lem eventually faded away. It was clear that
the fl eas that had emerged from their pupae
after the cats had been removed could not
fi nd their usual hosts so turned instead to
humans. Further investigation revealed that
similar feral cat and fl ea problems had
existed at other sites but the use of fl ea
treatments prior to cat removal avoided the
subsequent upsurge in bite reports.

area, more extensive insecticide treatment,
cleaning of all textiles on the wards, and
temporarily stopping new patient admis-
sions. Eventually, the fl eas were carefully
re-examined and found to be lacking both
the thoracic and genal combs, and so were
identifi ed as Pulex irritans , a highly unusual
fl ea in the region. The investigation then
switched from trying to fi nd an animal host
to a suitable carrier. Eventually one staff
member was identifi ed, who had inadvert-
ently and very unusually been supporting a
signifi cant fl ea problem at home. The person
did not react to the bites. Subsequent advice
and thorough treatment of his home helped
eliminate the fl ea problem (Thomas et al. ,
2000).

Conclusions

Fleas are interesting and specialized insects,
showing a number of morphological and
behavioural features through their various
life stages that help maintain their close
association with their host.
The ancient fl ea-related problems of
plague and tungiasis continue, although
these are now largely restricted to more
remote or under-resourced regions. Prob-
lems with nuisance biting from cat or dog
fl eas are, however, very widespread inter-
nationally and arise almost entirely from
human involvement with companion
animals. The presence of blood-feeding
insects in the domestic environment,
especially those that are fl exible in their
choice of host species, will always remain a
concern.
At present, fl ea control is largely based
around insecticide use and there has been
innovation in this area, especially in the use
of products on animals. However, more
sophisticated and targeted approaches to
fl ea control within buildings are also
required, together with the identifi cation of
appropriate and effective non-chemical
techniques to improve the focus of indoor
fl ea treatment.

Unexpected fl ea species

The staff at a small local hospital became
aware of being bitten by insects. Investi-
gation by the hospital's infection control
team revealed that 13 staff had been bitten
together with some patients, some staff had
seen fl eas on their uniform, and in a few
cases the staff's family members had also
been bitten, presumably as a result of fl eas
being taken home. A pest controller was
called in to manage the infestation. His
initial investigation revealed absence of any
fl ea host such as cats, foxes or other potential
hosts. None the less the staff changing area
was treated with a pyrethroid insecticide,
but bites and fl ea sightings continued.
Control measures were increased, including
the provision of a separate staff showering