FLEA LIFECYCLE

Female fleas lay eggs on the host animal. These fall off and hatch in anything from 1-10 days. Flea larvae then move deep into carpets and down cracks in wood to dark, protected areas, where they feed on organic debris and adult flea faeces.

This next stage of their development takes 5-11 days, after which they pupate - which means they spin a cocoon around themselves which protects them as they develop into adult fleas.  

If conditions such as temperature are right, there can then be an explosion in the number of fleas. The newly emerged adults need a host for long-term survival.  

If they find one, they can survive for more than 100 days and the female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day.