How Long Do Fleas Live Without Eating?

Fleas can survive without a host for a few weeks or even months, depending on their stage of life. They feed on blood and organic matter and spend most of their time in a mammal’s sleeping quarters. The adult fleas, after feeding on the blood of its host, mate and lay eight eggs on the host’s fur. Although these eggs are not sticky, they do require a mammal host and warm bedding to develop.

Fleas don’t have wings, but they use their powerful hind legs to jump onto a host. Their legs are about one-sixteenth of an inch long, and they can jump about eight inches. This is the reason why fleas tend to prefer furry mammals, like humans. If you want to keep your pets from getting fleas, keep their fur short.

When fleas are out of their cocoon, they start counting the days until their first blood meal. Their metabolism speeds up once they’re in the open air, and if they don’t get blood right away, they will starve. However, fleas can survive for up to a week without food.

Unlike the adult flea, the flea pupae can survive in a cocoon for months or years. These pupae can be easily removed with soap and water. If you have fleas on your dog, a bath is a good way to remove them.