How Long Can Fleas Reproduce Without a Host?
WouterFleas prefer to feed on animals, but if an animal is not available, fleas will bite humans instead. Fleas are very good at detecting the human body’s heat, movement, and vibrations, which enable them to locate a suitable host. Their feeding habits and fecal contamination spread germs, and they can infect open wounds.
Fleas can live up to 100 days without a host, but they don’t reproduce unless they find a blood meal. Without a blood meal, fleas are unable to lay eggs, and their population would decline dramatically. If fleas can find a host, they can emerge from their pupa stage within a few days or weeks, and begin feeding.
Adult fleas can live up to two weeks without a host. The young ones do not develop a blood dependency and can survive for a few days. In addition to this, young fleas can survive without a host for up to two weeks. In certain stages of their life cycle, they can survive for even longer. Therefore, it is imperative to take a comprehensive approach to control fleas.
Besides living in the pet’s skin, fleas can reproduce on carpets and upholstered furniture. These are dark, warm places that fleas find appealing. Unlike their hosts, they have a unique ability to jump, so they tend to settle in carpets and furniture to find their preferred hosts.
