How Long Does Fleas Last?
WouterFleas are a common problem, but few people understand the life cycle of these parasites. Understanding their life cycle and the life span of their various life stages is an important first step toward controlling them. Adult fleas have a life span of about a week without their host, but they can survive for longer if they were in an earlier stage.
Fleas have powerful hind legs, but they can’t fly. Instead, they rely on vibrations and changes in carbon dioxide levels to find their host. Once they have found a host, the flea leaves its protective cocoon and feeds on the host. Then it can live on the host’s fur for weeks, often feeding on its blood.
Fleas reproduce quickly. The eggs are laid by the mother flea. The flea larvae remain inside the animal’s fur for several months, eventually turning into adult fleas that jump on humans and other animals. Fleas usually stay on the same host throughout their entire life cycle, but they may jump from one host to another after a few days.
Adult fleas feed on the blood of animals they encounter. They can survive up to a week without a blood meal, but if they don’t find a blood meal immediately, they will die. The adult fleas are most active in the first 24 hours after they emerge from their cocoon.
