There’s something about hearing the words “fleas” and “ticks” that instantly makes your skin itch. You might picture your dog scratching non-stop, your cat flicking its ears, or worse, finding one of these tiny hitchhikers crawling on you after a walk. But beyond being unpleasant, these pests are stubborn and sneaky, and their behavior has everything to do with the weather.
Understanding how the weather affects fleas and ticks can help you protect your home, pets, and family. Let’s dive into what drives these pests and how temperatures, humidity levels, and seasons influence when they show up — and just how hard they hit.
How the Weather Affects Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks don’t just show up randomly; they follow the climate. Both are heavily influenced by temperature and humidity. The warmer and more humid it gets, the more active these pests become. Rain, sunshine, dry spells — every weather change shifts their behavior.
What Temperature Do Fleas Flourish In?
Fleas are most comfortable in temperatures between 70°F and 85°F, paired with high humidity. The ideal weather for fleas to hatch and multiply is practically what many in the Central Valley would call perfect patio weather.
Even in cooler months, fleas can still survive inside homes where the indoor climate remains warm and inviting. This is why fleas can be a year-round problem, not just a summertime one.
When Is Flea and Tick Season?
While it might seem like fleas and ticks disappear during colder weather, that’s not always true — especially not in California. Flea and tick season often starts in the spring, spikes in summer, and lingers through fall. But here, with our mild winters, they tend to stick around longer than you’d like.
Knowing when flea and tick season is makes it easier to prep your yard, check your pets, and stay ahead of infestations before they get out of control.
When Flea and Tick Season Is at Its Worst
The worst of flea and tick season typically hits during those hot, muggy weeks in summer. This is when flea eggs hatch faster, and ticks become more aggressive in their search for a host. This is also when your pets are outside more, going for walks and visiting the dog park, making them easy targets.
Hot Weather and Fleas
Hot weather and fleas have a love-hate relationship. While extreme heat can slow them down, fleas are great at finding shady spots to hide and survive — like under porches, in piles of leaves, or even in your carpet. A heat wave might drive them indoors, where they’ll latch onto pets, people, and anything with a pulse.
That’s why it’s a mistake to assume fleas are only an outdoor issue. They’re survivors, and they’ll find a way to stick around, especially during long, hot summers.
Flea Life Cycle and How It Connects to Weather
The flea life cycle — egg, larva, pupa, and adult — runs faster in the right weather. Warm, moist conditions help them move from one stage to the next in a matter of days. The pupa stage is especially tricky because fleas can stay dormant until the environment feels just right, then suddenly hatch all at once.
This cycle is why it feels like one day you have a few fleas, and the next day your dog’s scratching non-stop. It’s not your imagination — the weather really does play a big part.
Ticks and Climate
Ticks are tougher than fleas in many ways. These inspects can survive colder temperatures and even go dormant for a while, waiting for a host. But ticks also prefer warm, humid weather and tend to become more active after it rains. They love to hang out in tall grass, thick bushes, and shady, damp areas.
So, even a mild spring rain can lead to a jump in tick activity, especially in wooded or overgrown parts of your yard. Knowing how the weather affects fleas and ticks can help you avoid these risky areas, especially if you like to hike or spend time outdoors with your family and pets.
The Real Risks Fleas and Ticks Bring
Sure, fleas and ticks are annoying, but they’re more than just irritating — they can make you and your pets sick. Fleas can trigger allergies, cause hair loss, and even spread parasites like tapeworms. For puppies and kittens, a bad flea infestation can cause anemia, which can get serious fast.
Ticks are even more worrisome. They’re known carriers of diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and Lyme disease.
How to Keep Fleas and Ticks Out of Your Life
You can’t change the weather, but you can take steps to keep fleas and ticks off your pets and out of your home.
Start With Your Yard
Your backyard is ground zero for flea and tick trouble. Keep your lawn trimmed and clear out piles of leaves or brush where ticks like to hide. These bugs love moisture, so it helps to reduce shady, damp spots where they can camp out and wait for a host to pass by.
Clean, Vacuum, Repeat
Indoors, vacuuming is your best friend. Fleas lay eggs in carpets, pet beds, and even furniture. Regular cleaning helps you get ahead of their life cycle before they have the chance to spread. Wash your pet’s bedding often, and don’t forget soft furnishings like rugs, throw blankets, and the couch cushions they like to snooze on.
Don’t Forget Your Pets
It’s not just about your home — it’s about your pets, too. Regular grooming, flea shampoos, and medications recommended by your veterinarian are all part of the routine. Topical treatments, flea collars, and oral meds are a good defense, especially during times when flea and tick season is in full swing.
How to Know It’s Time for Help
Sometimes, you do everything right and still end up with a flea or tick problem. At that point, it’s time to call in the experts. Dustin Pest Control offers professional flea removal in Central Valley, CA, and we’ve been doing it for decades.
Dustin Pest Control knows how to handle stubborn pest issues. We’ve built a strong reputation for friendly service and results that last. Our technicians are trained to handle pests like fleas and ticks using the latest tools and techniques — without cutting corners.
Ready to Kick Fleas and Ticks to the Curb?
So, how does the weather affect fleas and ticks? It makes a big difference. Warmer temperatures, higher humidity, and mild winters all play a role in how bad flea and tick season can get. And if you’re wondering when flea and tick season is — it’s probably already started.
Hot weather and fleas are a real concern in places like the Central Valley, and knowing what temperature fleas flourish in can help you plan ahead.
Now that you know how the weather affects fleas and ticks, why wait? If you’re ready to take action, let Dustin Pest Control help. We’re proud to be part of the Central Valley community, offering everything from flea and tick treatments to termite control in Fresno, CA. Contact us today!