Understanding the Flea Life Cycle

The life-cycle of fleas are exactly the same as that of butterflies:

Adult Fleas---->Eggs---->Larvae---->Cocoon

Adult Stage of fleas

The entire life cycle for an adult fleas can range from 3 weeks to 6 months depending on the external conditions. When it's warm and humid (summer) they are most active and likewise a shorter life span. During unfavorable periods like winter, they are less active and hence a longer life-span is expected.

Fleas' Eggs

The eggs of the fleas will hatch within 1 to 10 days and are easily killed by high temperature (>35 degrees C)

Fleas Larvae

The larvae will last between 5-11 days. They feed on the undigested blood of the adult fleas droppings and development of this stage takes place off the host animals. The fleas larvae prefer dark environment and burrow down available material like carpets, furniture, cracks on floor etc. They are easily drown in water and are killed by heat (>35 degrees C)

Fleas Cocoon

The favourite hiding place for the flea cocoon are carpets. Thick carpets serve as a protective covering for them and hence fogger could not reach them. It grows into an adult fleas in 1 week to 6 months depending on external environment and is easily killed by heat (>35 degrees C)

The following shows the approximate percentage of infestation in the 4 stages of the fleas life cycle:

	1%
	14%
	35%
	50%

So do you see now that simply working on getting rid of the adult fleas will not solve your problem? The larvae, eggs & cocoon will still be "alive" and will not be affected at all. These will eventually turn into adult fleas and that's why your problem will seems to be never-ending as the whole cycle repeats itself all over again and again.

Now, armed with this simple knowledge of the life cycle of the fleas, we are now ready to strategise and choose the right products as well as the right means of getting rid of the fleas effectively and completely.  

But first of all, Take a look at how a flea bite looks like