How Fast Fleas Spread
WouterIf you have a pet, you may be wondering how fast fleas spread. Fleas lay their eggs on the host animal, and those eggs then fall to the floor, bedding, or yard. The larvae remain in the vicinity of the host for between one and 10 days. Fleas remain in the same environment for at least 5 days, but they may stay longer if they have a host that is prone to flea infestations.
Fleas live and reproduce quickly, so it’s important to take measures to get rid of them before they infest your home. The best way to prevent flea infestations is to control the temperature in the area where they’re found. Fleas require a relatively warm and moist environment to survive and breed. If the temperature in the area is too high or too dry, the larvae will die off.
Adult female fleas lay eggs on their hosts, usually the host pet. In order to reproduce, these fleas lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. Adult fleas are about an eighth of an inch long and brown to black in color. Fleas live about three weeks during their peak season, although they can survive for several months on a host.
Adult fleas feed on the blood of the animal they are attached to. The first 24 hours after their cocoon has been shed, adult fleas are looking for a blood meal. Once they’ve found one, they begin feeding within a few seconds of landing.
