Why Do Fleas Need Blood to Reproduce?
WouterWhen fleas have a blood meal, they need an animal host to reproduce. Without an animal host, their eggs cannot hatch. They lay their eggs on an animal and then fall into the environment. That’s why you will find flea eggs on pet bedding. They can also hitchhike on your clothing. You should check your belongings for fleas as soon as possible.
Fleas are common on humans and pets. Adult fleas feed on animal blood and cannot survive for several generations without a blood meal. Adult fleas will start looking for blood in their first 24 hours after emerging from their cocoon. A blood meal is a vital part of their life cycle.
Fleas do not prefer to bite humans. Instead, they prefer larger animals such as cats and dogs. The lack of fur makes them less comfortable to bite humans. They also can’t reproduce without blood, as they need blood to resolve the seminal block and lay eggs. The blood meal also provides them with enough energy to survive and move to their preferred host.
Adult female fleas lay eggs after they have gotten a blood meal. They lay these eggs in groups of 20. They can lay up to forty eggs in a day, and they can lay up to 2000 eggs in their lifetime. Adult fleas lay their eggs in areas where their host pet rests. After the larvae hatch, they feed on predigested blood and organic debris.
