What is the flea life cycle and how can you break it?

Each Stage in Detail

• Flea eggs

  Flea eggs are tiny, oval-shaped, and usually white or cream-coloured. They are laid on your pets but often fall off into the environment, making them tricky to spot. They can fall off onto surfaces such as bedding, carpets, and furniture, contributing to infestations. These eggs can take time to hatch depending on if they’re dormant or not. Active eggs can hatch in about a week but some may lay dormant for months, it all depends on the conditions of their environment, like temperature and humidity.

• Flea larvae

  Once flea eggs hatch, they give rise to flea larvae. These tiny, worm-like creatures are blind and avoid light. They feed on organic debris such as flea poo and skin cells, and they thrive in dark and humid environments, such as carpets and bedding. Hoovering and cleaning your home regularly can help reduce the presence of flea larvae.

• Flea pupae

  Flea pupae spin cocoons around themselves for protection as they transform into adults. The pupal stage is remarkably resilient and can survive from weeks to months in its cocoon. The cocoons have a sticky like texture which also helps them hide and blend into their surroundings. So, pupae can be super challenging to eliminate as it is but to add to this, they are also resistant to flea killing treatments. They do however emerge when they sense vibrations, heat, or carbon dioxide (signals indicating the presence of a potential host). We recommend hoovering lots to increase vibrations, encouraging them to hatch and then be killed as adult fleas.

• Flea adult

  Adult fleas emerge from their pupae when they sense the presence of a suitable host, usually your pets or, in some cases, even us humans. They are equipped with specialised mouthparts for piercing the skin and feeding on blood (gross!). This doesn't just cause discomfort but they can sometimes transmit diseases. Adult fleas can lay eggs within a day or two of their first blood meal, beginning the life cycle all over again. Adult fleas tend to have a lifespan of around 2-3 months but this can depend on how ideal their living conditions are.