How Often Fleas Lay Eggs

The life cycle of a flea starts with a blood meal. This blood meal is essential for the flea to grow and lay eggs. These eggs are tiny, white objects that are typically laid by female fleas in bunches of 20. Approximately half of the eggs laid by a single adult female flea will fall off the pet within eight hours of being laid.

Flea eggs develop into larvae in about two days to two weeks, depending on the environment. Cold and dry eggs take longer to hatch, while warm and humid conditions hatch them faster. Once the eggs hatch, the flea larvae emerge, which feed on predigested blood and organic debris.

The life cycle of fleas is complex. They pass through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The length of each stage depends on the climate, environment, and food sources. Depending on the species, the adult flea can live anywhere from two weeks to eight months. During the adult stage, fleas lay between four and eight eggs, with the highest concentrations occurring during the last few days of female fleas’ lives.

Fleas are parasitic insects that live on the blood of mammals and birds. They are dark brown, flattened from side to side, and have numerous spines on their legs. A female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs over her lifetime.