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 Post subject: We have fleas
PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:18 pm 
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adorabalicious
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Two weeks ago I noticed one, Today I saw another. Roomie has seen some in that time.

DAMNIT.

Other roomie doesn't think its a big deal and doesn't want to bomb the house.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:27 pm 
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See ya in fleahab.

Where do we send the cards?

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:27 pm 
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Kitty Cash had the worst case of fleas I had ever seen (they were part of what nearly killed him; the parasite caused him to stop eating, and the fleas nearly drained him dry, literally). We don't know where they came from; our outdoor cat and puppy don't have a flea on them. We tried every single medication we could find. The only thing that worked was CAPSTAR, and it worked well, but only for about 24 hours (by design, I guess I should note). We had the house professionally sprayed four times, all to no avail. We were at our wits' end.

Then I did some research and came across diatomaceous earth.
Quote:
Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical-grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation. This material has wide application for insect control in grain storage.

This stuff was an absolute Godsend. It's ground-up phytoplankton, similar to coral. It's harmless to us, but on a microscopic level it's rough. It pierces the fleas' waxy coating and causes them to dehydrate and die.

$16 bought us a three-pound tub, and we spread it around everywhere in the house. It's just a fine powder, similar to talcum. Safe to eat, rub on pets' fur, no chemicals, yadda yadda yadda. Also, being a mechanical killer rather than a chemical one, the little bloodsuckers can't become immune. Put it down in the carpets, pet bedding, etc. (wear a dust mask to keep from inhaling it while it's floating around in the air, and if you're like us, three days later the flea problem is solved.


Last edited by FarSky on Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:30 pm 
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I was going to suggest cleansing fire, but I guess Farsky's suggestion has more merit...


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:31 pm 
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Near Ground
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damaged wrote:
I was going to suggest cleansing fire, but I guess Farsky's suggestion has more merit...

Trust me, until we found the d/earth, fire was the next option we were going to try.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:46 pm 
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adorabalicious
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I've been reading up and I think im going that route especially sine its effective against eggs.

I just got a text from one roomie "I think you're going overboard, I've lived with fleas before and its no big deal."

I told him I will pursue the fastest most efficient method of eradication. If he wishes to remain in the house while its bug-bombed he is an adult and can decide to do so - I won't be going to the funeral.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:52 pm 
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I've had to put up with fleas before, but it's a big deal. Not to mention a pain in the ***, and kinda disgusting. Are you living with Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia or something?


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:53 pm 
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The house I'm buying has a D/E pool filter. So it works as a filter, as well as a flea killer I guess.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:57 pm 
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The pool filter has been heated so the silicon has fused so its not really usable in the same application.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:33 pm 
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Near Ground
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Oh, yeah, make sure to get food-grade d/earth, not the pool-grade stuff.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:55 pm 
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Heh. An old guildie's roommate recently bought a second-hand mattress that ushered in a full-scale bedbug invasion. He's still miserable and has spent 2 weeks so far combatting it. He's gotten to the point where he's putting most of his stuff in non climate controlled storage and going to let the Arizona heat kill 'em over several months.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:22 am 
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killed five on my sock this morning. Arghhh. Just did the carpets, got foggers, gotta find some earth in the area.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:07 pm 
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adorabalicious
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Just found two bags but gotta leave for work.

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 Post subject: Re: We have fleas
PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:28 pm 
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I say you take off and nuke the site from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure...

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:34 pm 
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adorabalicious
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Yeah I'm still treating the place. Got foggers lined up but not enough for a whole house nuke which I have to coordinate with the roomies. Right now letting the dust settle so I dont breathe it in when I go back downstairs to shower.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:36 pm 
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Do what it takes Elmarnieh, living with fleas can be a very big deal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague

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 Post subject: Re: We have fleas
PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:36 pm 
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Good luck...
Those little f*ckers are persistent.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:38 pm 
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I think ill be late for work though. Dont wanna breathe it in, its like small particles of abrasive

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 Post subject: Re: We have fleas
PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:18 pm 
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Did your roomie get out? Or you gonna fumigate him too?

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:24 pm 
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They aren't here. I just showered so I'm getting ready to head in. I want to plan to fumigate tomorrow.

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 Post subject: Re: We have fleas
PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:26 pm 
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Good luck with the fleas! We had an infestation a few months ago and it was a PAIN to deal with! They managed to camp out in the vehicles and the yard as well. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get rid of them. We bombed twice, capstarred and Advantaged the dogs and that seemed to do it.
Wish I would have heard of the D.E. stuff...isn't it basically chalk? Love to know how that works.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:29 pm 
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adorabalicious
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O **** my car. I'll have to dust it when I get to work.

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 Post subject: Re: We have fleas
PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:41 pm 
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Ugh. All bug unfestations suck (no pun intended), but fleas are one of the most persistent. DE is wonderful stuff... I have issues with a lot of chemicals and bug bombs incapacitate me (no, I'm not staying in the house when bombed, but I can't go into it for about a weeks afterwards, and only if the windows are left open for that time to air out). I very much like living in an area with few insects.


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 Post subject: Re: We have fleas
PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:44 pm 
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Taamar wrote:
Ugh. All bug unfestations suck (no pun intended), but fleas are one of the most persistent. DE is wonderful stuff... I have issues with a lot of chemicals and bug bombs incapacitate me (no, I'm not staying in the house when bombed, but I can't go into it for about a weeks afterwards, and only if the windows are left open for that time to air out). I very much like living in an area with few insects.


???

:shock:

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PostPosted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:52 pm 
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Lavender oil repels fleas.


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