The Flea Life Cycle
There are 4 stages of the flea’s life cycle. The life cycle can be any where from 3 weeks to 6 months depending on the external environment.
Adult. The adult fleas that you see are only 5% of the actual population. After the adult flea has its first blood meal from the host–your dog and/or cat–then it is capable of reproduction. One adult flea can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day onto the host. A female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in its life time. The female lays the eggs which can then fall off into the pet’s immediate environment: bed, blanket, floor, etc.
Eggs. The eggs can take between 2 days and 2 weeks to hatch and compose about 50% of the flea population. The primary habitat of the eggs is any where the host lives.
Larvae. Next, the eggs become larvae. Flea larvae feed on any available organic material such as dead insects, feces, and vegetable matter. The larval stage composes approximately 35% of the entire flea population. The larvae are blind and avoid sunlight, keeping to dark places like sand, cracks and crevices, and bedding. They can stay in the la