What is the life cycle of fleas?
There are four stages in the development of fleas: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Male and female fleas mate and two days later the female flea starts laying eggs. The eggs are often laid on the animal, but because they are not sticky, fall off into the environment. Along with the eggs, the female flea deposits a large amount of feces (often called “flea dirt”). The feces, or flea dirt will dissolve into a red color when moistened; this is because it is primarily digested blood. The flea lays 30-50 eggs per day, generally in batches of 3 to 15. A flea can produce 400-1,000 eggs in her lifetime (several months to two years, depending on the species).
