What do domestic flea eggs look like? - briefly
Flea eggs are tiny, whitish, oval bodies about 0.5 mm long, smooth and non‑sticky. They are deposited in clusters on the host’s fur or in the surrounding environment, where they fall to the floor or bedding.
What do domestic flea eggs look like? - in detail
Flea eggs produced by household infestations are minute, oval structures measuring approximately 0.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width. Their shells appear smooth and slightly translucent, allowing a faint yellow‑white hue to be seen when illuminated. Under low‑magnification (10–20×) the eggs resemble tiny grains of sand; higher magnification (40–100×) reveals a thin, flexible chorion with a subtle ribbed pattern along the longitudinal axis.
The eggs are laid singly, often embedded in the host’s fur or in the surrounding environment such as bedding, carpet fibers, or cracks in flooring. When deposited on a host, the sticky coating on the shell adheres to hair shafts, making the eggs difficult to dislodge. In the environment, the eggs may be found scattered in clusters within organic debris, where they remain concealed by dust and lint.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 0.5 mm × 0.2 mm (average)
- Shape: elongated oval, slightly tapered at both ends
- Color: pale yellow‑white, semi‑transparent
- Surface: smooth outer membrane with faint longitudinal ridges
- Coating: sticky exochorion that adheres to hair or fabric fibers
Developmental stage identification relies on these traits. Freshly laid eggs retain a glossy sheen; after 24–48 hours, the shell darkens slightly as the embryo matures. Upon hatching, the egg shell collapses, leaving a minute, empty husk that may be mistaken for debris. Recognizing these specific features assists in accurate detection and effective control measures.