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When
eggs hatch, fleas enter the larval stage which lasts approximately
one to two weeks, depending on the environment. Larvae begin
spinning whitish cocoons (properly called pupae) where the
worm develops into an adult flea, metamorphosing from the
cocoon in as little as one week or as many as six months.
Three factors can accelerate emergence from the cocoon:
warm temperatures from a sleeping host animal, hummidity,
and vibrations, whether caused by footsteps, vacuum cleaners
or other sources.
Upon entering the adult stage, a flea will immediately seek
a host to feed from and will be able to reproduce. Thus,
the flea life cycle begins anew. The female flea will lay
20 to 50 eggs per day and can continue doing this for over
three months. Two out of three fleas are female, so the
possibility for huge infestations, in a relatively short
time, can be predicted during the course of one flea season
(a season which usually begins in April in warmer climates
and extends through September).
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