The Flea Lifecycle, Stages and
Types of Dogs Fleas

I got ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.

First we'll identify the flea. We all know what those pesky critters look like right? And we all know they suck the blood of mammals and make most of us itch. Here's a closeup picture of the flea stages.

There are four flea stages and the flea lifecycle takes two weeks to several months, depending on the environment. There's the egg, larva, pupa (which has more than one form) and adult.

Once the female has her meal from Fido, she lays 15-50 eggs per day. Once the eggs dry, they fall off the dog. In two days to two weeks the eggs hatch and feed on... adult flea feces and any tapeworm eggs that may be around.

The warmer it is, the faster the larva develop. Think Spring and Summer. Then the larva spins a tiny cocoon and pupates. In five to fourteen days it's ready hatch. Even though ready, it will wait until it detects a host since it can only live a week without a blood meal. Carbon dioxide, heat, noise or the vibration made by people or pets walking... or the vacuum cleaner are its signals that food is near.

Amazing Flea Facts

Even though a flea measures only 1/16” to 1/8” long and have three pairs of legs, their back legs make them excellent jumpers. Fleas can jump thirteen feet horizontally and seven feet vertically. I itch just thinking about it!

Types Of Fleas

There are several types of fleas. (I really thought a flea was a flea until I researched it.) Basically, there is a cat flea, a dog flea, a human flea, a few kinds of rat fleas and a Sticktight flea that is found near poultry and is found attached at the eyes and ears.

The most frequently found flea in the world is the cat flea, but they don't limit themselves to cats and chances are, our dogs fleas (and fleas on humans) are actually cat fleas. Enough of this fun.

Dog Tapeworms

The tapeworm eggs passed out through a dog's feces are eaten by the larval stage of the flea, and the immature tapeworm stays with the flea through its metamorphosis to the blood-sucking adult. When the flea bites, the dog may bite at the flea and swallow it, along with the larval tapeworm. See Natural Flea Repellent. And now you know why fleas and tapeworms trouble our dogs at the same time!

Flea Control

To learn flea control and understand what is toxic and what is not, I found an eBook called Flea Control Secrets.

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