How do domestic fleas reproduce? - briefly
Female fleas deposit 20–50 eggs on the host or nearby bedding shortly after feeding; the eggs hatch into larvae, which spin cocoons, pupate, and emerge as adults, completing the cycle in roughly two weeks under optimal conditions.
How do domestic fleas reproduce? - in detail
Domestic fleas complete a rapid, multi‑stage life cycle that relies on warm, humid environments and a blood‑feeding host. Adult females mate shortly after emerging from the pupal cocoon; a single male can fertilize many females, and mating often occurs on the host’s fur. After insemination, a female begins oviposition within 24 hours, depositing 20–50 eggs per day for up to two weeks. Eggs are laid on the host but fall onto the surrounding bedding, carpet, or floor where conditions are suitable.
The developmental sequence proceeds as follows:
- Egg – spherical, 0.5 mm, hatching in 1–5 days depending on temperature (optimal 25–30 °C) and humidity (>70 %).
- Larva – three instars, blind and non‑feeding; larvae consume organic debris, adult flea feces (which contain dried blood), and mold spores. Development lasts 4–14 days, accelerating under favorable conditions.
- Pupa – larvae spin a silken cocoon and enter a quiescent stage. Pupation endures 5–20 days; the cocoon remains dormant until stimulated by host vibrations, carbon dioxide, or increased temperature, prompting adult emergence.
- Adult – wingless, laterally flattened, equipped with powerful hind legs for jumping. Adults emerge ready to seek a host, begin blood feeding within minutes, and can live 2–3 months if a host is continuously available.
Key factors influencing reproductive success include:
- Temperature: development time shortens as temperature rises; below 10 °C, the cycle stalls.
- Humidity: low moisture reduces egg viability and larval survival.
- Host availability: frequent blood meals are required for female egg production; interruption leads to reduced fecundity.
- Environmental refuges: cracks, upholstery, and pet bedding provide protected sites for eggs, larvae, and pupae, facilitating population persistence.
Understanding each stage enables targeted control measures such as regular vacuuming to remove eggs and larvae, washing bedding at high temperatures to destroy pupae, and maintaining low indoor humidity to hinder development.