How long does a flea live without feeding? - briefly
A flea can survive without a blood meal for only a few days, typically «2–3 days», and under optimal humidity and temperature may extend to about a week. Larval stages endure longer, but adult longevity without feeding remains limited to this short interval.
How long does a flea live without feeding? - in detail
Fleas require blood to complete their adult life, yet they can endure periods without a meal. Under ideal laboratory conditions—temperature around 21 °C and relative humidity near 75 %—adult fleas survive for 5 to 7 days without feeding. At higher temperatures (30 °C) and low humidity, mortality rises sharply, limiting survival to 2–3 days. Conversely, cooler, moist environments extend starvation tolerance to 10–14 days.
Key variables that modify survival time include:
- Temperature: lower temperatures reduce metabolic rate, prolonging life.
- Humidity: high humidity prevents desiccation, supporting longer endurance.
- Species: cat‑fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) generally outlast dog‑fleas (Ctenocephalides canis) by a few days under identical conditions.
- Age: newly emerged adults possess greater energy reserves than older individuals.
Larvae do not require a host; they feed on organic debris, adult flea feces, and mold. In the absence of suitable food, larval development stalls, and individuals can persist for several weeks, awaiting favorable conditions.
Pupal cocoons remain dormant until stimulated by vibrations, carbon dioxide, or heat from a potential host. Dormancy may last months, with some reports of cocoons remaining viable for up to a year without external cues.
Recorded extremes demonstrate that, when environmental factors align, adult fleas have survived up to 14 days without a blood source, while pupae have remained viable for many months, reactivating only when a host approaches.