Fleas are tiny, but relentless. Once they invade, they spread quickly — feeding on pets, biting humans, and hiding in carpets, furniture, and floorboards. In Middle Tennessee, the warm, humid climate makes flea problems especially common and stubborn.

Active Seasons

Fleas are most active from spring through late fall, but in warm indoor environments, they can thrive year-round. The highest activity typically occurs in May through September, when outdoor flea populations surge.

Lifespan

The flea lifecycle can last a few weeks to several months, depending on environmental conditions. Adults can live up to 100 days, but flea eggs can remain dormant for months, waiting for the right conditions to hatch.

Reproduction Rate

Fleas reproduce at an alarming rate:

• A single female can lay 20–50 eggs per day, totaling hundreds in her lifetime.

• Eggs fall into carpets, cracks, and bedding, developing into larvae, then pupae, and finally new biting adults — all in as little as 2–3 weeks under ideal conditions.

How to Identify

• Appearance: Very small (1/16″), dark brown, wingless insects that jump quickly and far.

• Behavior: Found on pets, in pet bedding, rugs, furniture, and floor crevices.

• Signs:

  • Pets scratching excessively

  • Small red bites (often in clusters) on ankles or legs

  • “Flea dirt” (tiny black specks of digested blood) on pet fur or bedding

Even if you don’t have pets, you can still get fleas — they can be carried in by wildlife like squirrels, raccoons, or even visiting animals.

Health Concerns

• Flea bites are itchy, irritating, and can cause allergic reactions in some people and pets.

• Fleas can transmit diseases like cat scratch fever, murine typhus, and even tapeworms.

• Heavy infestations can lead to anemia in pets, especially smaller animals or kittens.

Property Concerns

• Fleas embed themselves in carpets, upholstery, floor cracks, and pet bedding.

• Over-the-counter flea treatments often miss eggs and larvae, meaning infestations come back fast.

• You may not see fleas until the infestation is already widespread.

Why You Need Perimeter Pest

Fleas are one of those pests where DIY efforts often fall short. That’s because the problem isn’t just what’s crawling on your pet — it’s what’s hiding in your home.

Perimeter Pest’s flea treatments are multi-phase and highly targeted, designed to:

• Kill adult fleas
• Disrupt the lifecycle (eggs, larvae, pupae)
• Prevent reinfestation with exterior barrier treatments

Plus, we’ll help identify entry points and wildlife issues that might be fueling the problem — because flea control isn’t just about your house… it’s about the property around it too.

Don’t let fleas take over — trust Perimeter Pest to kick them out and keep them out, with expert solutions for Nashville-area homes.