He didn't think fleas were a human problem -it was just something the pets got, but following a massive bout of rain, Tessa the cat brought them inside in droves.

Soon his daughters were bitten and it wasn't until he was changing the bed clothes that he realised he too was covered in fleas.

"At first I didn't notice, and then suddenly they were very itchy, like mosquito bites gone viral," he said.

Not one to shy away from these issues, he took it to air, bringing in the local vet and pharmacist.

Soon he had people calling in with their latest flea problems and all sorts of old-fashioned remedies, one man swearing by white pepper which he sprinkled around his Queenslander home.

Wellington agronomist Michael White said it wasn't uncommon to have a flea problem after heavy rain.

He said that in the absence of cats and dogs, the fleas will go for people and it can be quite unpleasant.

There are many species, but they all respond to the rain, preferring a warm, humid environment.

Fleas undergo complete metamorphosis with four stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) which vary in length according to environmental factors.

They require a blood meal prior to mating, after which the female flea can deposit up to 50 eggs per day. The average flea lives for several months.

Mr White said that for treatment to be effective, people should treat not just the pet, but also the lawn, the pet's bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture.

After talking to the experts, Dugald Saunders' advice was not to scratch the bites (because they can get infected), but go straight to the chemist.

He flea-bombed, vacuumed, washed everything and turned the house inside out before finally declaring it flea-free.