How active are bed fleas? - briefly
Adult fleas in bedding are extremely active, capable of jumping several centimeters and feeding multiple times each day; their larvae remain confined to the fabric, moving only to locate organic debris. This high mobility makes infestations spread rapidly across the sleeping surface.
How active are bed fleas? - in detail
Bed fleas are small, wingless insects that spend most of their time on hosts or in the immediate environment where hosts rest. Their locomotion consists of rapid jumps powered by a highly elastic protein, allowing distances up to 150 cm vertically and 30 cm horizontally. Typical jump acceleration reaches 100 g, enabling escape from disturbances and swift movement between bedding layers.
Feeding activity occurs several times per day. After a blood meal, a flea remains relatively motionless for 30 minutes to 2 hours to digest, then resumes searching for another host. Temperature and humidity strongly influence movement; optimal activity is observed at 24‑30 °C and relative humidity of 70‑80 %. Lower temperatures reduce jump frequency by up to 50 % and increase resting periods.
Key activity parameters:
- Jump distance: up to 150 cm vertically, 30 cm horizontally.
- Jump acceleration: approximately 100 g.
- Feeding intervals: 3–5 times per day, each lasting 5–10 minutes.
- Resting duration after feeding: 30 minutes – 2 hours.
- Peak activity period: dusk to early night, coinciding with host inactivity.
- Environmental thresholds: activity declines sharply below 15 °C or humidity under 50 %.
Life‑stage influences: larvae are less mobile, moving only to locate organic debris for nutrition, while adult fleas exhibit the described jumping behavior. Understanding these patterns assists in timing interventions, such as applying insecticides when fleas are most active (dusk) and maintaining environmental conditions outside optimal ranges to suppress movement.