When Do Fleas Lay Eggs?

Fleas lay eggs on their hosts to hatch the next generation. These eggs are white and less than half a millimetre long. If you look at them under a microscope, they look like tiny rice grains. Occasionally, the fleas will leave behind traces of black dirt, which are actually flea droppings.

Fleas can have a relatively short life cycle, ranging from two weeks if the conditions are right, to over a year if conditions aren’t right. Flea eggs can remain dormant for months, but hatching from them is stimulated by a host.

The female flea lays her eggs in an animal’s fur while the animal is sleeping or resting. During normal activities, the egg may fall off the host, such as when the pet is jumping off furniture. The flea eggs hatch into larvae within three to four days, and feed on the blood of the host. The immature fleas are afraid of light, and can live for only a few days without food.

Fleas prefer to lay their eggs near the primary source of food. Because fleas cannot lay eggs in human hair or blood, they rarely lay eggs in human hair. Typically, female fleas lay their eggs in the fur of their host, about 36 to 48 hours after their last meal. They don’t stay in the host’s fur, but lay eggs in other locations, such as bedding and carpets.