We're seeing flea inquiries up 18% across Tampa Bay over the past two weeks, with St. Petersburg leading the activity. Fleas can keep cycling between pets, bedding and sheltered resting spots during fall, so checking the places where pets spend time is a useful first step. Regular vacuuming, washing pet bedding and veterinarian-guided pet treatment help address that cycle.
We're seeing more flea activity across Tampa Bay, with St. Petersburg leading local inquiries. Fall does not necessarily end the flea cycle: pets can carry adult fleas indoors, while eggs fall into bedding, rugs and resting areas. Those sheltered spots can support continuing activity around the home.
Look for repeated scratching in pets, small jumping insects and dark specks in fur or bedding. A flea comb can help you check a pet's coat. Pay particular attention to favorite sleeping places, upholstered furniture and the edges of rugs where pets regularly settle.
Vacuum rugs, upholstery and floor edges regularly, and empty the vacuum contents outside. Wash pet bedding according to its care instructions. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate flea prevention for every pet in the household, and remove leaf litter from shaded outdoor pet resting areas.
Keep checking indoor and outdoor pet resting spots together rather than focusing only on visible adult fleas. Flea life stages can be easy to miss, so a consistent cleanup routine matters even when you see fewer jumping insects.
If fleas keep appearing despite cleaning and veterinarian-guided pet care, we're here to help you assess the problem. Learn about Anti-Pesto Bug Killers' home pest control service and discuss next steps for your Tampa Bay home.
Source: Anti-Pesto Bug Killers service calls and customer inquiries, Sep 14–27, 2026.
Fleas are tiny reddish-brown pests. They have flat bodies, two antennae, and six legs. Of their six legs, the back two are long and powerful, allowing them to propel themselves over eight inches with one jump. That’s over 150 times their size! Fleas also have backward-facing bristles on their legs, allowing them to move through hair, fur, and other fibers easily.
Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. You may notice a few things if you get bitten by a flea. Flea bites tend to be small, red bumps that sometimes have a dark, red ring around the center. They usually appear in groups of three or four bites in a straight line. Fleas usually bite people around the ankles and legs, as well as in folds, such as the armpit and groin areas.
For most people, fleas and their bites are not especially dangerous. However, some people react negatively to flea bites and can have allergic reactions to those bites. Fleas are also known to transmit diseases through their bites. Although rare, they can spread bubonic plague and typhus.
Pets react to flea bites in a similar way to humans. However, there are additional concerns for pets, especially if a flea infestation is severe. Pets can experience anemia due to the loss of blood from flea bites. They can also get tapeworms from fleas.
Fleas usually get inside homes by riding inside on humans or pets. These biting pests can be picked up in public or from your yard. Your property is more likely to have fleas if you have wildlife activity.
Fleas will hide in the areas where they can easily get a meal. When they enter your house, they are usually found in places where people and pets spend time. You may find them in your bed, upholstered furniture, carpet, pet bedding, and even in cracks in the floor.
Most people realize they have a flea infestation when they discover flea bites on their bodies or notice their pets scratching more than usual. Some common signs of a flea infestation include:
Because fleas are so tiny, they can often go unnoticed, allowing an infestation to become widespread before you recognize it.
Finding fleas in your house is an unpleasant discovery. No one likes to think about bugs biting you while you sleep or crawling around in your clothes without your knowledge. As soon as you realize you have a flea problem, you’ll want to eliminate it as quickly as possible. Can you do it yourself?
Unfortunately, do-it-yourself flea control treatments are not effective. Some are simply dangerous to your family's health, using harmful chemicals to try to get rid of the problem. In contrast, others take the opposite course by using natural products that do nothing to eliminate the fleas. Trying to get rid of a flea infestation on your own will not yield the desired results.
The best way to eliminate a flea infestation is to contact Anti-Pesto Bug Killers for professional flea control. We understand how fleas get into homes, we know how to treat your property to get rid of fleas, and we have access to the proper treatment methods and products. Don’t waste time and money on DIY treatments that don’t work. Instead, let Anti-Pesto quickly and thoroughly get rid of fleas from your Tampa Bay home.
Preventing fleas from getting into your home is far better than trying to get rid of them after they’ve already arrived. These prevention tips will help you keep your home and property flea-free:
From the first contact call the staff was very professional, courteous and informative. We discussed the issues and set a plan with an appointment within a couple days. Shane, our technician, was very prompt and courteous. Very informative during the inspection process and strategically put a deterrent plan in place. I would highly recommend Anti-Pesto Bug Killers.
Jim J.
Largo, FL
We had a wasp infestation in our backyard shed. Anti-Pesto responded immediately and were out to our place within about two hours and took care of everything thoroughly. They will even follow-up again within two weeks to be sure that the problem does not recur. They are awesome!
Daniel Z.
Largo, FL
Amazing quality work. I’ve had a few pest control companies spray and ants would still enter our home and act as roommates. Sam Hurtado is our technician and he answers everything with knowledge and always brings quality work. Even if there was recent pest work they always arrange if I have issues. Thank you!!
Trish N.
Tampa, FL
