Where Do Fleas Lay Eggs?

Fleas lay their eggs on the fur of their host animals while they are sleeping or resting. As the host moves around, these eggs fall from the host and may be dislodged by your pet if it jumps off of furniture or beds. The eggs hatch into larvae in three to four days. The larvae survive by feeding on the predigested blood of their mother. Flea eggs are usually white in color. The black specks you see on infested pets and bedding are not flea eggs, but dried blood and flea droppings.

Flea eggs need warm, moist conditions to develop. These conditions range from 70 to 85 percent humidity. In most cases, a female flea will lay four to eight eggs per blood meal. Flea eggs are very small, a quarter inch in diameter, and are usually found clustered together. They fall off the host easily and end up in many areas of the house. Once hatched, the larvae feed on predigested blood and organic debris.

Adult female fleas can lay 10-50 eggs per day under ideal conditions. They prefer temperatures between 75 and 95 degrees and a humidity level between 60 and 85%. They can lay up to 2,000 eggs in their lifetime.