Can Fleas Eat Human Blood?

A common question people ask is, “Can fleas eat human blood?” While fleas prefer blood from their pet hosts, they can survive on human blood if necessary. This is done by jumping on to your skin, sucking it until the fleas are full. Once they’re full, they return to their preferred host.

Fleas have three parts, including a mouth, which they use to suck blood. One part pierces the skin, while another stabs the blood vessel. Once they’ve eaten the blood, the flea’s salivary glands will open up and release an anticoagulant. This helps them keep the blood flowing.

Fleas lay eggs on their hosts. They are usually white, oval-shaped, and about half a millimeter in diameter. They lay their eggs on the fur of their host animals and in bedding. These eggs lay dormant for a long time, but hatch when they feel vibrations from their host’s body.

Flea life cycles take about 17 to 26 days indoors. In a home environment, fleas can remain dormant for up to 5 months. Adult fleas are not able to reproduce on human blood. However, they can live on clothing, carpeting, and bedding for up to two weeks after they emerge. They will then die and disappear.