pesticide-resistant fleas- how to get rid of them for good

[Keith]

I've got an old stone & sand basement that has fleas really, really bad from the previous owner (well, her cat). When I first moved in, a 10-second trip to the basement would mean at least 40 fleas on me by the time I made it back to the top of the basement stairs. I've tried bug bombs, followed by the last 9 months with a professional pest service who comes all the time (I call them every time I go down there because I always have at least

5-10 fleas jump on me). They have tried every chemical they have legal access to use, but nothing has worked. No pets (or people) use the basement, right now it is useless space. The pest control service has expressed some concern about the total amount of pesticide they have sprayed in the last year- the only reason they haven't stopped altogether is because the area they are spraying isnt living space.

So now I'm stuck with these invincible fleas. Does anyone know of any alternative methods I should try? So far I haven't gotten any good ideas, and the funniest suggestion I've gotten was from a co-worker who suggested throwing a few dozen cats in the basement as "flea sponges", then carting the cats out. I'm an animal lover, so I wont take that suggestion seriously ;-) but I am looking for real options...

Thanks, Keith

[Richard J Kinch]

Find something you can apply yourself that is effective. Not just permethrins. And then violate federal law by multiplying the dose. The recommended doses on consumer products tend to be minimal, as are the "professional" products and trade, these days.

I don't know what "bug bombs" you tried, but the Raid fumigators in the little blue cans are quite effective, and you can multiply those, too.

[Jim Yanik]

Keith wrote in news:Xns96AFD74CE60F7KeithBC4ReaderTokenI@207.115.63.158:

They now make growth regulators that stop the growth cycle of fleas and other insects,the sprays last for 6 months or more.The stuff I have is called Enforcer Flea spray for homes.it cost about $10 at Home Depot.

[lightlady]

for a non-chemical approach, get some food-grade diatomaceous earth (aka DE ), it's a fine powder made of ground up diatomes (aka sea shells). sprinkle it around, making sure to get into cracks along walls/floorboards. The DE will nick the exoskeleton and the insects dehydrate and die. it also works on fire-ants :-)

HTH

[Lar]

In article , [e-mail] says... :) So now I'm stuck with these invincible fleas. Does anyone know of any :) alternative methods I should try? So far I haven't gotten any good ideas, :) and the funniest suggestion I've gotten was from a co-worker who suggested :) throwing a few dozen cats in the basement as "flea sponges", then carting :) the cats out. I'm an animal lover, so I wont take that suggestion seriously :) ;-) but I am looking for real options... :) :) :) LOL ...sending animals down there treated with frontline may be an idea... I would guess you still have a host animal..rats..mice...opossum...many treatments being aerosols or some of the formulations of liquid treatments will have no long term effect, growth regulators included. They will soak into the sand floor/stone. Dusts would be effective, though I wouldn't use Diatomaceous earth...works real slow. The pros should have access to Drione which is silica gel, that also is a desiccant, but contains 1% powdered pyrethrin which is a quick kill. Any liquid treatments used should be either micro encapsulated products or wettable powders. You can make a "trap" using a lamp with a pan of water under neath in the light...set the lamp on the floor away from where you may be at when you go down there and it might help reduce the numbers you are seeing.

[Norminn]

ANY chance there are mice, rats, squirrels in voids around basement? Possums, etc., nesting under a porch or in attic? If there are wild critters bringing them in, it can be a risk of disease. Are you using a "name brand" pest control company? If so, go up the ladder. They may be using a product that doesn't kill eggs, and retreatment is needed after a few days to get newly hatched fleas. Be sure no animals or nests are present.