Do Fleas Need Animals to Survive?

Fleas are parasites that live on humans and other animals. They have strong legs that enable them to jump onto hosts. During their time on a host, fleas feed and mate. Then they fall off and lay their eggs in carpets, blankets, and yards.

Fleas are not vegetarians and can survive without animals for up to a week. However, they will die of starvation if they do not feed on vertebrate blood. This is the reason why it is imperative to keep your pets and household animals clean and healthy.

One way to kill fleas is by vacuuming the home frequently. This will kill flea eggs and pupae that emerge from cocoons. In addition, you can buy spot-on or oral flea treatments from your veterinarian. Usually, these treatments are enough to control fleas on your pets. If your pet needs to go outdoors, you may need to buy an outdoor treatment, but this is not necessary.

Fleas can live for more than a year if they have the right conditions and host animals. When they lay their eggs, they hatch into larvae, which feed on organic debris and hide from human contact for several weeks. Once they reach the pupae stage, they go through several stages, including hibernation and senescence. During these stages, fleas are able to survive without food for up to a week.