How Quickly Can Fleas Multiply?

Fleas multiply by laying eggs. Once they have eaten the blood of a host, adult female fleas lay their eggs. Each egg is a small white object. Typically, one female flea lays between 20 and 40 eggs a day. When the pet moves, the eggs fall off the pet. These eggs make up fifty percent of the flea population in an average home.

The life cycle of fleas is complex. Once an adult flea lays an egg, it hatches. Once the egg has developed, the flea can lay up to 50 eggs. Once these eggs hatch, the flea population begins to multiply rapidly. By day 30, there may be up to 4,400 fleas in the home. This makes it increasingly difficult to control the infestation.

Flea eggs hatch into larvae, which are about half an inch long and white. The larvae feed on organic waste and the excreta of adult fleas. They then encase themselves in a cocoon. The larvae then develop into adult fleas, which take between seven and nineteen days. When the environment is right, the larvae will stay in a cocoon for weeks or even months, depending on the environment.

Adult fleas live in an animal’s coat, bedding, or carpet. In a suitable environment, female fleas lay up to 500 eggs a day, which hatch into larvae. These larvae need a cool, shaded place to survive and develop. If the pupae have found a host, they will emerge and begin feeding within hours of emerging.