Remember: Adult fleas can live up to two weeks without attaching themselves to a host. So, although females can't reproduce during that time, they still have up to two weeks to find a host and reproduce. And since they reproduce rapidly, one pregnant female adult flea can lead to many fleas in a short time.
It is a daily common myth that fleas will eventually just go away on their own, but this is far from correct. If you've got a flea infestation, you can't afford to wait for the problem to resolve itself – it won't.
When you don't know the history of previous occupants, the assumption is that there once were pets staying that house and they left fleas behind. Another possibility is that wild animals like raccoons, opossums, squirrels and even feral dogs and cats have been nesting in the attic or denning under that house.
Vacant houses are the easiest to treat for fleas, as it limits the places they can hide. I generally recommend thorough vacuuming and the use of flea bombs that effect both adults and eggs.
Fleas are very prolific. Undisturbed and without a meal (blood from a host), a flea can live more than 100 days. On average, they live two to three months. Female fleas cannot lay eggs until after their first blood meal and begin to lay eggs within 36-48 hours after that meal.
Fleas like hiding in crevices. Their populations are more numerous in places where they can feed (like pet bedding and living rooms) and reproduce undisturbed (like lower-traffic areas or in carpeting). They also inhabit upholstery, furniture, and other common household furnishings, especially where they can stay warm.
When a flea first emerges as an adult, it must find its first blood meal within one week or it will starve to death. After this first blood meal, non-reproducing female and male fleas may survive without feeding up to 4 days but egg-laying adult females will die within 24 hours without a blood meal.
One way to detect fleas in your house is to throw on a pair of white cotton socks and walk around. Higher socks are better because you'll be less likely to get bitten. Walk around carpeted areas for around ten minutes. If fleas are present, they will jump up to hitch a ride.
While one flea may not seem like a big deal, these small bugs breed extremely quickly. So fast that if immediate action is not taken, an infestation is surely on the horizon.
Fleas Don't Die Easily in the Winter
Fleas are more likely to die if temperatures hit freezing and stay there for a while. But even then, that's not always enough. You can't depend on fleas dying in the winter, even if they're outdoors. The flea's life cycle helps it survive.
Fleas can live on hardwood floors. They develop in cracks and crevices, which create a suitable micro-habitat for larvae. Tile floors are a poor habitat. Linoleum is even worse for supporting fleas, due to the lack of cracks.
Most successful flea treatment programs require at least 2-3 treatments at 14-day intervals using both an insecticide for the adult fleas and an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to prevent immature stages of fleas from developing into breeding adults.
In just 30 days, 10 female fleas can multiply to over a quarter million new fleas in different life stages. Female fleas start producing eggs within 24 to 48 hours after taking their first blood meal and can lay up to 50 eggs per day. Optimum conditions for flea larvae are 65-80 ºF with shaded areas and high humidity.
Baking Soda. Sprinkle baking soda on affected areas such as furniture and carpets. The powder will penetrate the fibers of the carpets, killing off any fleas hiding there. A hard brush can help push the powder deeper into the fabric or carpet to get rid of all fleas.
While there is a type of parasite called a human or house flea (Pulex irritans) which prefers to feed on the blood of the two-legged members of your household, they are quite uncommon in industrialized areas. Cat fleas are responsible for about 75% of home invasions.
According to extensive studies conducted at Ohio State University, vacuuming is indeed an effective way of getting rid of fleas! Through these studies, scientists discovered that vacuuming killed 96% of adult fleas from carpets and 100% of the flea pupae and larvae.
Due to their size, strength, and chemical composition, flea bombs are not considered long-term pest control and may not be able to combat true flea infestations, but they can have moderate short-term efficacy.
At What Temperature and How Quickly Do Fleas Die? Adult fleas die at temperatures colder than 46.4°F (8°C) and hotter than 95°F (35°C).
During the day, fleas avoid the sun so they are most active at sunset and least active at sunrise. At dusk, the pests would lay more eggs, respire more, and move around in the yard more. Although the fleas are not completely inactive at any time of the day, they have increased activity at dusk and night.
A 2017 study published by the Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases found that thyme and myrtle essential oils can repel fleas effectively. Cedarwood oil can also repel fleas from fabric, people, and pets, according to Healthline.
If you see just a few fleas on your dog, you may be tempted to think it's not a big deal. Although the random flea might show up if you've just taken your pup for a walk, more than one or two could be a sign of a problem. As few as 20 fleas might mean your pet is infested, while the most could be between 200 to 300.