How Cold Is Too Cold For Fleas?
Winter temperatures are an important factor in flea control. Although adult fleas and ticks cannot hibernate, they can overwinter in your home, in organic matter, and on wild animals. They can also overwinter on your pets. Ticks also require a high humidity level to survive.
While winter temperatures aren’t the ideal time to apply flea control, it is still important to treat your pets with flea prevention products. Even though fleas can’t survive in freezing temperatures, they’ll survive the winter if they’re kept warm. Fleas will try to hang on to wild animals and lay their eggs, making sure the flea population remains strong.
During the winter months, fleas are not active, but they are less active and die at low temperatures. If temperatures drop below freezing, flea eggs and adults will die. The fleas that survive the winter months will return the following spring. The best way to protect your home from fleas is to keep the house warm.
However, unlike most insects, fleas are not able to hibernate. Adult fleas can survive up to five months without food. This state of dormancy enables them to survive without food until spring. It also allows them to avoid the danger of freezing over.