Fleas can live for 100 days, and can survive in the “pupa” stage for up to one year!
One female flea can lay up to 2000 eggs in her lifetime.
Fleas can be transmitted to pets from grass, wooded trails and even carried into the home from visitors.
Infested pets have a distinctive “black dirt” on their skin. Their chest, neck and groin areas are often littered with this dirt.
Spring time is often the onset of flea season and fleas are often a household problem until the end of summer.
Prevention is the best approach to dealing with fleas. Once an infestation appears, multiple remedies have to be suggested.
Using direct pet treatment alone is not enough, using premise sprays or carpet treatments in combination are a must.
Lifecycle of a Flea
Stage 1 – Egg : The adult female flea will lay eggs only on your pet. As your pet moves around the house, eggs will fall off onto rugs and furniture. There, they hatch into larvae in 2-4 days.
Stage 2 – Larva: These maggot-like creatures feed off of protein sources found in carpets or furniture. A larva will feed on crumbs of food or “flea dirt” to sustain life. Within two weeks, the larva spins a cocoon.
Stage 3 – Pupa: The pupa’s cocoon protects it from outside dangers while it becomes an adult. While in this state, it is invulnerable to most flea control products. The flea will stay in this state for as little as 7-10 days, hatching when it senses the vibration and heat of an animal. Note: Without the right amount of heat and the presence of a host to feed on, a pupa will remain dormant for up to 6 months. This accounts for many re-infestations.
Stage 4 – Adult: They seek out a host, take a blood meal, mate within 48 hours, and lay eggs within 72 hours to begin the reproductive cycle again.
