How Many Fleas Can One Flea Produce?

The first step in eliminating fleas is to understand their life cycle. Fleas are parasites and lay their eggs on an animal host. Their eggs hatch and mature in an environment that favors their survival, such as 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Flea eggs hatch and remain viable for about 7 days.

Adult fleas are dark brown, strongly flattened from side to side. Their legs are covered with spines, and they are about one-tenth inch long. They feed off of blood from cats and dogs, and then lay eggs. Adult fleas can produce as many as 50 eggs daily.

Fleas lay eggs when they sense the presence of a host. They will only hatch when the conditions are right, such as moisture and temperature. Cold and dry eggs will take longer to hatch than warm and humid ones. Once a flea lays eggs, the flea will begin breeding. Within a few days, an adult flea can lay 40 eggs.

Fleas lay eggs in many locations on pets. The eggs can be on a pet for several days or even weeks. The eggs are then released into the environment. Adult fleas are about one-eighth inch long, and are brown or black in color. They live for three weeks during their peak season, but can live as long as one hundred days on a host.