Maybe it's my imagination but fleas seem worse this summer. My wife used some good soap on the dog so that issue is solved but there's still fleas getting in the house. In addition to vacuuming, etc, this trap couldn't be cheaper or easier. Take a glass and place a candle of about the same height inside it, waxed to the bottom so it stands up. Place the glass on a plate filled with soapy water. Place one in each problem room, in the middle of the floor or in the most open space of that room. Light the candle and turn out the lights, or close the shades if it's during the day. It helps if you and pets can be out of the room too. A small bulb will attract fleas and you can buy such glue traps. But I think the heat from the candle makes the combo irresistible to them. Mine have been burning for about an hour. I've replaced the candle in each (only had 4" on hand) but I've already caught several bloodsuckers.
Fleas are bad this year, at least down South. Mosquitoes and gnats are as well! Fun tip here - thanks.
I've been in N.C. for three years and they do seem worse now. Just one more thing I miss about living in Ohio...the snow and ice killed off a whole lot over the winter.
Not as cheap, but very effective; Comfortis. It's a prescription oral med given once per month. The dog (or cat) becomes a flea killing magnet. When the fleas bit your pet, they die. Eventually your pet will attract and kill all fleas in your home AND yard! There are possible side effects, check with your Vet. To save a bit of money - if you have a smaller dog, for the same price you can get the big dog sized pills and divvy them up to smaller doses. My parents are a RN & a LPN and figured out a 60 pound dog dose works just fine for 3-20 pound dogs.
Even just warm water would do. But you're right, they look for warm bodies. If you have carpet, I can't recommend boric acid powder treatments enough for humid climates. It desiccates the eggs and prevents the fleas from manifesting in your carpet. Did it when I lived in Houston, it was amazing.
That's what I do. Pay a little extra for the largest size Trifexis for the dogs, and cut the pills up. It can make it last 2-3 times longer. Big savings. I had one Vet that refused to sell the larger size, he made up several stories why. But, it all came down to him just wanting the extra sales. I told him I would drive 5 blocks down the road and get another vet, if all he cared about was the sales. He looked shocked, when I took my two dogs and walked out the door. The new vet understood my reasons for saving money, and now gets twice the business from us. Win win for him, myself, and my animals. Oh, as for fleas. This year has been the worst I've seen in 20 years out here. But it's an easy fix. My dogs are outside. So, I get the dogs on their Trifexis, and nuke the yard with granular insecticide, as well as as much as I can broadcast over the neighbors fences. I've only had one instance of fleas in my home. That was many years ago, and a can of insect fogger in each carpeted room instantly did the trick. Nuke the little bastards!!!!!
