Do Fleas Come in Different Sizes?

The adult fleas are about an eighth of an inch long and reddish brown. They are quite thin and have large back legs. They are able to jump up to 12 inches in a single leap. Their life cycle starts and ends when they find a suitable host. Flea eggs are semi-transparent and ovoid. They are about the size of a grain of salt and measure about 0.5 mm long and 0.3 mm wide. They are so small that you can see them from a distance without having to touch them.

The life cycle of a flea usually lasts about one year. Adult fleas feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They can feed up to 15 times a day. Most human flea bites occur on the calves or ankles. One adult flea may bite more than one person at one time, but this is not necessarily a sign of an infestation. Fleas are attracted to the vibrations on a warm-blooded animal’s skin.

Adult fleas have different sizes. Females are larger and have larger abdomens, while males are smaller and have flat undersides. Their size is determined by the amount of blood they feed on. They can live anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months on a host.