As it starts to cool down, it’s a great time to treat for fleas outside using beneficial nematodes.

What are Beneficial Nematodes?

These are microscopic parasites that can be watered into the soil of your yard, and they actually attack flea larvae! The result is the flea life cycle is cut off.

Beneficial nematodes are harmless to people, pets and even beneficial insects. They can also go after grubs, and potentially fire ants, in your lawn.

Another big advantage of this service is that it doesn’t need reapplication. They nematodes stay in the soil and do their thing until they run out of prey to attack. So when the flea larvae are gone, they’re done. Talk about efficient!

When to Apply Beneficial Nematodes

They are best sprayed in when the weather is cooler without too much direct sunlight. The lawn where they’ll be applied needs to be watered to the point of saturation before they are added. The wetter, the better. Then the yard should be watered for at least a couple of days afterwards. That way the nematodes can easily enter the soil become established.

Do I Need Beneficial Nematodes for Fleas?

You only need them if you have an active outside flea issue in your yard. They are not a preventive treatment since they require flea larvae to survive. You can check your yard by shuffling through wearing light colored pants tucked into white socks. Fleas jump onto animals, and people, when they walk through. They’re triggered by the heat and vibration. If you walk through the yard and see the small black specks show up on the bottom of those pants, you have a flea situation. They can be flicked off or picked off. They are tough pests. Pinching or trying to “crush” them really doesn’t work.

If you have a flea problem in your yard, give us a call at 512-443-0123 or fill out our online form. You can read more about fleas here.