How Long Do Fleas Take to Become Adults?
WouterFleas are very tiny creatures, about 1/16 of an inch long and red or brown in color. They have three pairs of legs, with the third pair being large and adapted for jumping. Their flattened bodies are covered in a shiny coating that helps them move through fur. During the first 24 hours after emerging from their cocoon, fleas are looking for a blood meal. They begin feeding within 10 seconds of landing on a host.
A flea’s life cycle includes four stages: larva, pupa, and adult. The larva stage usually takes anywhere from five to 14 days. However, some fleas may stay in a cocoon until temperatures are more appropriate. They can survive cold winters and hot summers, and are even able to survive up to 6 months in a hibernation state.
Once they have a host, adult fleas will start breeding. Fleas cannot breed without a blood meal. The adult stage will last up to 62 days. A female flea will not lay eggs until she has a blood meal. If the host is in a warm, humid environment, her eggs will hatch sooner than others.
When an adult flea emerges from its cocoon, they do not immediately leave the cocoon. They need blood to maintain their metabolism and continue to feed. Once dislodged, they have to find a new host or hop back onto the original one to reproduce. In this way, a female flea can multiply to over 25 million new fleas in a month.
