Attack fleas, ticks aggresively now
RICKY THOMPSON

Ricky Thompson is the Texas Cooperative Extension agent. For more information call 384-3721.

One of our worst adversaries are fleas and ticks and they are in prime time as we speak.

The best flea and tick control strategy is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program involving treatment and management of animals and all surroundings. (Yard, house, and loaf areas)

The first step in a successful IPM program is knowing your enemy. Ticks go through four stages: egg, six-legged larva, one or more eightlegged nymph and adult stages. Hard ticks usually mate on the host (your pet). The female drops to the ground and lays 3,000 to 6,000 eggs that hatch into larvae or "seed ticks."

The entire life cycle takes from two months to two years depending on the tick species. The flea also has four developmental stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. The egg is whitish and about 1/32-inch long. Flea eggs fall off your pet and other animals soon after they're laid, usually in your dog or cat's preferred resting place- your couch, for instance.

They hatch into larvae in two or three days. The larvae feed mainly on undigested blood voided by adult fleas before entering the pupal state. Pupae are found in silken cocoons usually covered with sand, dust or organic debris. The pupal state is highly resistant to any chemical treatment, because of the covering.

Adults emerge from the pupal state in seven to 14 days under good conditions. However, without food, the flea may stay in the pupal stage as long as six weeks.

The flea's entire life cycle can be completed in three to four weeks under optimum conditions. Your house provides optimum conditions as do cool, damp areas outdoors. This is where treatments should be concentrated.

Flea and tick control must include treatment of the pet and the home, inside and out. Pet owners are somewhat limited on outdoor tick control options. Products including bendiocarb (Ficam), carbaryl (Sevin) or Malathion are all good when applied properly.

Remember, all these products are nerve poisons, capable of affecting not only ticks, but if used improperly, you and your pet as well. Always read and follow label directions, exactly. Fleas become resistant to insecticides form time to time. If the first insecticide you use does not work then change mixtures and re-spray immediately.

On the animal, owners now have a number of reasonably safe choices. I would consult with your local veterinary for the best products and control on animals. I would also suggest visiting the local feed stores and doing some label reading for good over the counter products as well. Study products carefully, some only kill or control insects at certain stages of life.

There are new products on the market that are reliable flea growth regulators. But must growth regulators should be used in April and May, before flea populations explode.

Outdoor treatments should be concentrated where pests spend the most time. Products that control ticks will do a good job on fleas, but not necessarily vice versa.

Indoor flea control must be done cautiously. To first mop, vacuum and dust thoroughly. In severe cases, discard the vacuum bag since larvae continue to develop inside the bag. Before using any insect control read and follow label instructions.