Do Glue Traps Work for Fleas? | Crucial Tactics and Best Practices

Glue traps usually are consisted of a board that is coated with a thick layer of an extremely sticky adhesive which is used to catch rodents, insects, and other small pests. When these pests come in contact with the sticky board, they usually cannot escape and remain stuck until the board is disposed of by humans. These traps are effective for some pests but what about fleas?

Do glue traps work for fleas? Glue traps work for fleas if they have certain attractants that can lure fleas. After fleas come in contact with the glue trap, they get stuck and die. Fleas are usually attracted to heat, light, certain odors, and colors. If a glue trap contains some of these features that lure fleas, it will be an effective trap for fleas.

Although normal glue traps may not be very efficient for trapping fleas, glue traps that are modified to trap fleas can certainly do the trick.

In this article, we will look at what glue traps are usually used for and how they can be modified to catch fleas. In addition, we will also cover other methods that can be used to get rid of a flea infestation.

What Attracts Fleas and Why?

There are a few things that attract fleas. Let’s go over each of them in detail.

Heat

If you’ve noticed, flea outbreaks are always associated with summer and the heat. Studies conducted at the University of Sydney revealed that fleas are much more present during the summer and in areas with warm climates because warm weather makes them mature faster.

A heatwave reduces the period of development of a flea from 2 months to 3 weeks. In addition to this, it was discovered that flea eggs, larvae, and pupae love warmth and heat.

Light

As mentioned earlier, fleas love warm places, and light is another factor that attracts them. Fleas aren’t actually attracted or drawn toward the light like other insects but are simply attracted to the heat produced by light.

Odor

Fleas also seem to respond well to certain smells, simply because some odors reveal potential warm bodies they can latch onto. For example, they are attracted to carbon dioxide because it represents the gas that warm-blooded organisms produce. 

According to a study conducted by the University of Florida on fleas and their behavior, fleas tend to prefer bodies that have a stronger amount of CO₂ than other bodies. Due to this reason, people who sweat more than others are prone to be more attracted to fleas.

Color

Research has also shown that fleas are more attracted to the green light. For this reason, flea traps generally have green fluorescent lights to attract fleas toward them. But in general, color doesn’t play a very big role when it comes to luring fleas, as they are also some specific fleas that seem to prefer darker colors like black or brown.

What Are Glue Traps?

A sticky glue surface on glue traps holds the insect in place when it lands on it. For maximum effectiveness, it is advisable to scatter numerous flea glue traps throughout the house.

The surface’s stickiness will capture and eliminate fleas. This flea trap is regarded by many as the best available because it quickly and cheaply eliminates the flea problem without the use of harmful chemicals.

Are Glue Traps Effective at Catching Fleas?

Flea glue traps work well, however, it relies on the stage of the flea’s life cycle. The frequent pest that causes problems and is caught in the glue trap is the adult flea. However, people frequently overlook the eggs and larvae that are still in the house. If ignored, the cycle keeps going, and the infestation is still there.

Due to their ability to leap well and the glue trap’s bait’s ability to attract them, adult fleas are the only ones that the trap will capture. Thus, the next to do is to choose the kind of flea glue trap you’ll be using.

How to Use Glue Traps to Catch Fleas? | Instructions

Regular glue traps are usually sheets or boards that are covered with non-toxic adhesive glue that is strong enough to catch medium-sized rodents and anything smaller than that. These traps are usually placed along the usual route of the pests and don’t require any additional attractants. 

Since fleas are smaller in size and don’t have any particular route they follow, they might be a little trickier to catch. Additionally, fleas don’t move on the ground or along the wall like other pests, so using sticky boards or pads is almost useless. It’s also almost impossible to place sticky sheets all over the place to catch fleas in flight. 

How to Modify a Glue Trap to Catch Fleas? | Instructions

In order to catch fleas with glue traps, you will need to use a combination of attractants. This is to effectively lure and trap all the fleas in the area or room. Let’s look at a few ways you can create glue traps for fleas:

Use a Lamp and Sticky Paper

Sticky paper is another type of adhesive material that is used to catch small insects like fleas. You can either use a solid glue board or sticky paper when trapping fleas, as both work just as effectively.

Since fleas seem to respond well to light and heat, using a lamp that generates both light and warmth is a great option to attract these pests.

Here’s how to trap fleas: 

Step 1: Place the lamp in the corner of a room.

Step 2: Attach the sticky paper. It can be preferably yellow around or anywhere near the head of the lamp.

Step 3: Leave the lamp on overnight. You’ll find that all the fleas that came in search of warmth and light are glued to the sticky paper the next morning. 

If you’re using a glue board, place it directly underneath the head of the lamp. That way, fleas will get trapped while circulating around the lamp.

If you’d rather use a store-bought glue trap, we recommend checking out TERRO T230 Indoor Electric Flea Light. This trap is extremely effective and better than DIY solutions.

It comes with a lamp attached to a sticky plate and uses a combination of all the attractants we discussed in this article. In addition to this, it also has a sweet odor emanating from the sticky plate to attract fleas!

Other Ways of Combating a Flea Infestation

Although there are a number of methods, products, and devices that help catch fleas, you can’t completely get rid of fleas from your home unless you break their cycle of reproduction.

This can take anywhere between 3 to 5 weeks to achieve, and will also involve the use of chemical treatments, as normal glue traps won’t suffice.

Let’s have a look at the best ways to combat and eradicate flea infestation in your home.

Treat your Pet

If you have a pet dog or cat, there’s a high risk of them having a flea infestation as well. Use a good quality flea removal shampoo and follow the instructions to effectively remove any fleas or larvae from your pet’s fur.

Treat Your Home

As mentioned earlier, fleas love warm and dark places for nesting. Make sure you vacuum your home regularly to remove any eggs or larvae. If needed, use sprays or foggers to treat the furniture in your house.

Keep in mind that fleas love objects that resemble animal fur, so be sure to disinfect your carpets, rugs, curtains, or anything that looks like it might be an ideal nesting spot for fleas.

In addition to this, be sure to regularly wash your bed sheets and other linen, until you’re sure that the life cycle of the flea has been broken. To make things easier, here’s a list of objects and places that are likely to be infested by fleas:

• Carpets and rugs
• Under and behind beds and furniture
• Behind sofa cushions
• Pet’s bed or cushion

List of Sources

Heatwaves and fleas go together to make summer a nuisance for humans and pets. ABC News.
Fleas. University of Missouri.
Fleas – What They Are, What To Do. University of Florida.
Flea Control and Prevention. University of Kentucky.