How Soon Do Fleas Lay Eggs?

In an ideal environment, adult female fleas can lay about 10 to 50 eggs a day. These eggs are best laid in a temperature range of 75 to 95 degrees with 60 to 85% humidity. Female fleas can live 60 to 100 days and lay up to 2,000 eggs during their lifetime.

In a warm and humid environment, flea eggs can hatch within two days to two weeks. In cold, dry conditions, the eggs can take longer to hatch. However, warm, humid conditions will result in faster hatching. Once the eggs hatch, flea larvae emerge. The larvae are blind and avoid light. The larvae feed on predigested blood and other organic debris to grow.

Flea eggs develop inside the host animal. They need moderate temperatures and high humidity to develop into adult fleas. They are attracted to dark, moist areas such as carpet pile, baseboards, and floor cracks. They can also develop in sandy soil or under the house or bushes. Once they have developed, the adult fleas can live all year long.

Flea eggs are white and less than half a millimetre long. They look similar to tiny chicken eggs, and are oval in shape. Flea eggs can change colour over time – from solid white to translucent or shiny.