Flea Control

Flea Life Cycle

A flea’s life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa and adult, and the entire cycle can vary from two weeks to eight months depending on species, humidity, temperature and food. (The life cycle of a cat flea up to adulthood at room temperature takes about eighteen days.) Normally, after the female has a blood meal, she will lay between fifteen to twenty oval, white eggs per day on the host. Once the eggs dry they will usually drop off the host where it rests (carpet, upholstered furniture, cat or dog boxes, etc.). Eggs hatch into white, worm-like larvae in two days to two weeks.

The flea larvae phase consists of three stages, which last a week to several months. The larvae mostly feed on the dried blood found in the fecal matter of the adult fleas which falls off the host. Larval development normally occurs in places where there is at least 75% humidity, and larvae develop more quickly in warmer temperatures (70 to 90 F).

Once the larval stage is completed, the larva spins a tiny, silken cocoon and pupates. The pupae is usually camouflage by local debris. The larva will mature to adulthood inside its cocoon in about five to fourteen days. Since the new flea can only live a week without a blood meal, it will remain in its cocoon until it detects a host through vibration (people or pets walking), pressure (a host laying down on them), noise, heat or carbon dioxide. This is one reason why a family returning to an unoccupied home after an extended period of time (a long vacation) may suddenly be attacked by a massive amount of fleas. Newly emerged fleas will jump on a host only minutes after leaving their cocoon and begin feeding. An adult cat flea will normally live for thirty to forty days.

Habits Of Fleas

Fleas Control often breed most heavily where pets and other animals rest. Fleas may be found on pets throughout the year, but tend to be most problematic during spring and early summer. Pets infested with fleas are incessantly biting and scratching themselves. Humans are affected by flea bites differently depending on their sensitivity to the flea saliva. Fleas tend to bite humans on the ankles or lower leg and leave a small, red, itchy bump. People with allergies to the saliva, or flea allergic dermatitis (FAD), will experience extreme itching, and often a secondary infection is caused by the constant scratching.

Good to know General Information

• The single primary deterrent of egg production is the grooming habits of the pets. Cats are the best groomers and they ingest up to 50% of the fleas on them.
• The larva stage of the life cycle is typically 7 to 11 days.
• The larva undergoes a huge change in body size in five to six days and during its life cycle spins a silk cocoon.
• The larva can crawl up to three feet in distance.
• In order for the Cat flea to survive, it must have a minimum of 30% humidity. The larva is negative phototaxis, which means it does not like light. The larva is also positive geotaxis, meaning it moves downward. These are two reasons why larva are found in the base of carpets.
• The primary reason flea infestations vary is the amount of humidity. Carpet helps protect the humidity surrounding the larva.