The flea's life stages

Did you know that fleas, during their lifetime, go through four different life stages: egg, larva, pupa and imago (adult). The flea life cycle begins with the female laying eggs. In order to reproduce adult fleas must feed with fresh blood. Usually the flea lays its eggs on the host (dog, cat, rabbit, etc) but, because of the egg's shape, they easily roll on the ground surrounding the host. So areas where the host lives (sleeps and rests) become infested too with fleas. Usually it takes from two days to two week for the eggs to hach.

When the flea larvae emerges from the eggs it feeds itself with organic material (dead insects and feces), avoiding sunlight. That's why letting the sunlight in your house is a very good way to keep the fleas away. If the surrounding and food levels are optimal the larvae weaves a silken cocoon (or pupates). After another week or two the flea is fully developed.

However it is not rare that fleas overwinter in the larval or pupThal stage waiting for a host to arrive.

The adult flea's main goal is to find food (fresh blood) in order ot be able to reproduce. Female fleas can lay 500 or more eggs over their lifetime.Once they emerge from the cocoon adult fleas have only a week to find food, but once they feed themselves they can survive two months or even an entire year without food.

It's interesting to know that the flea population is quite unevenly distributed: 50% are eggs, 35% larvae, 10% pupae and only 5% adults.
Their total life cycle can last around two weeks, but, if conditions are favorable it may lengthen to several months.

So, before choosing any flea repellent you must know that whatever product you choose it must be effective against all four stages of fleas and it must be highly efficient (against 100% of the fleas).

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Read here if you want to know more about ticks.