Flea Q & A

What Is The Flea Life Cycle?

Egg Stage

Adult fleas lay eggs on the host animal after taking a blood meal. Those eggs will then readily drop off the animal into the environment as the host moves around. Flea eggs represent 50% of the total population. The flea eggs will hatch within a few days to weeks depending on the temperature and humidity levels. Eggs will develop faster in warmer, more humid climates compared to cool and dry ones. Products that contain an Insect Growth Regulator, or IGR, will prevent eggs from developing properly.

Larva Stage
The flea eggs hatch into larvae, which represent 35% of the flea population. Larvae prefer cool, shady areas such as in-between carpet fibers, underneath furniture, and along base boards. The speed of larval development depends on temperature and humidity levels. With favorable conditions, the larvae will spin cocoons within 5-20 days from hatching from the egg. Just like with flea eggs, pesticides that contain an IGR will prevent the larvae from developing.

Pupae Stage
The pupae stage represents 10% of the flea population. During this stage, the flea is protected by a cocoon with a hardy, sticky shell. There is no product that can penetrate this shell and kill the flea at this stage. With optimal conditions, 75°F with 78% humidity, adult fleas will begin to emerge in about 8-13 days. However, if conditions are not right, the flea can stay protected in this stage for much longer, up to a year! The flea will wait for the right conditions and stimulation from the host, such as vibrations, increased carbon dioxide levels, and body heat, before hatching. This is part of the reason why year round, quality flea prevention is so important!

Adult Stage
The adult stage of the flea life cycle represents 5% of the actual population. Immediately after hatching from the cocoon, the adult will seek out a host for its first blood meal. Within 20-24 hour after that blood meal egg production begins. Female fleas can lay 40-50 eggs per day, and on average may live between 2-3 months. That means fleas can lay up to 5,000 eggs in their lifetime!

What Should You Know About Fleas?

How do I know if my pet has fleas?
Fleas are small, brown, parasitic insects that, unless your pet is severely infested, you may not see. Many cats are such terrific groomers that they often swallow the fleas and you may never see the evidence. A typical sign of fleas is “flea dirt,” which is the fleas’ feces.  Flea dirt looks like pepper flakes sprinkled in your pet’s fur. When wiped with a damp cloth or paper towel, it can appear reddish in color since it consists of the digested blood that the fleas ingest from your pet to survive. If you find just one adult flea, there could be hundreds more in your pet’s environment.

How did my pet get fleas?
Although your pet may not be outdoors often, any area that has wildlife, such as foxes, mice, rabbits, opossums, skunks, raccoons, etc., may have fleas in the environment. Your pet can pick up fleas simply by walking around the back yard, even if it’s just to use the bathroom. Indoor only cats can get fleas from mice they may catch in the home. Fleas and flea eggs may stick to your shoes and pant legs when you walk through your yard and you can track them inside. As the weather cools, fleas will also seek out the warmth of your house, which is the perfect temperature for fleas year-round. An infestation can be caused by a single flea, who can produce up to 5,000 eggs in its lifetime.

How do I get rid of fleas?
It is important to treat all pets in the household with a quality flea product. Again, whether your pets are indoors or outdoors does not matter. Even if you see just one flea, that adult flea only represents 5% of the flea population, and that one flea can lay thousands of eggs. Left untreated, one flea can easily turn into an infestation. Regular flea prevention is recommended versus treating only when you see fleas on your pets. This is one situation where the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings very true. It is much easier to prevent your pet from getting fleas than it is to treat fleas once they are in your home.
Successfully treating a flea infestation not only requires treatment for your pet, but also your pet’s environment. Although eliminating fleas from the environment may be difficult, it is possible. We recommend using a pesticide spray containing an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR,) such as Knockout E.S., versus flea bombs. When you set off a flea bomb, it releases a cloud of powder up into the air, which will then settle on top of any furniture in the room and may not completely cover the entire area of the room. Fleas prefer the cool, dark areas of your home, such as under the furniture and along base boards. A spray can be used to get underneath and in between all the areas that fleas prefer. It is important that the product contains an IGR in order to control the immature flea population. A pesticide will kill adult fleas, while an IGR will prevent flea eggs and larvae from developing into adult fleas.
Prior to treating with a pesticide, you will want to physically remove as many fleas as possible by meticulously cleaning. Wash all bedding in hot water, and thoroughly vacuum all floors. If your vacuum has a hose attachment, vacuum the furniture and under cushions as well. Be sure to empty your vacuum’s bag or collection canister immediately, outside away from the house, as any fleas you pick up may survive and crawl back out of the bag. It can be helpful to wash the vacuum filter after use, as well. In the case of a severe infestation, it may be beneficial to call a professional exterminator.
When fleas are introduced to a pesticide, they go through an excitatory state preceding death. The pesticides effect their nervous system and as the chemicals reach the fleas’ brain, they become hyper-excited and agitated. It may look as if your flea infestation is getting worse as the fleas become more active, however, this indicates the fleas are actually dying off.
If you find yourself with a flea problem, you are not alone! Flea infestations, unfortunately, are common for pet owners. Having fleas in your home does not mean that you have a “dirty” home, or you are a “bad” pet owner. A flea infestation can be an educational experience, and teaches the value in quality flea prevention.

Are fleas dangerous to my pet?
Fleas do have the potential to cause a variety of health problems. They can transmit a parasitic bacteria called mycoplasma, which attacks a pet’s red blood cells. Fleas are an intermediate host for tapeworm, an intestinal parasite. If your pet happens to swallow a flea while grooming, they can become infected with tapeworm. Fleas take several blood meals a day, feeding for 3-4 hours at a time. Pets with heavy burdens of fleas, especially young and small animals, can develop a potentially life threatening anemia. Flea Allergy Dermatitis is a skin infection caused by flea bites. Symptoms of FAD include severe itchiness, redness, bumps, crusts, and pimples on the skin, and hair loss. Fleas can also transmit the plague and Cat Scratch Disease, which are known to effect people. Even if fleas do not make your pet sick, they can lead to extreme discomfort.

Can I get fleas from my pet?
Fleas' preference for a host are dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, and other animals. Although they will bite humans while searching for a meal, they typically do not live on people.