How to Break the Flea Life Cycle

Did you know only 5% of fleas in an active infestation are found on your pet? Meaning a flea infestation may develop in your home before you detect fleas on your pet. Here, we’ll walk you through how to tackle each stage of the flea life cycle so you can rest assured that the infestation is managed quickly and effectively.   

Fleas are tenacious parasites that are happy to use their size, speed, and patience to feed off your pet. 

Even after treatment, you may notice your pet still showing symptoms of fleas by biting, scratching, or over-grooming, as no product can repel fleas from jumping onto your pet. Your pet can pick up new fleas from the environment at any time, so it’s normal to continue to see fleas after treatment. If you’re pet has been treated with FRONTLINE PLUS® or FRONTLINE® SPOT ON any fleas jumping onto a treated pet will be killed within 24 hours, or within 6 hours if they’re treated with FRONTLINE TRI-ACT®.

Fleas reinfest pets easily because the fleas on your pet are only 5% of the problem. The other 95% of the flea population in a flea infestation lives in the environment, including the home and even the car. Not all stages in the flea lifecycle can be targeted with flea treatments, so if you're trying to get rid of fleas on your pet or in your home, it's important to understand each stage of the flea life cycle and how to get rid of them to look forward to a flea-free future.  

Fleas might have short lifespans, with the average flea living only 2-3 months. While that might not seem long, fleas will spend this time feeding on blood, reproducing, and spreading the infestation throughout your home.

The flea life cycle can take as little as two weeks with the right temperature and humidity but can last up to several months. There are four stages to the flea life cycle that need to be addressed:  

• Flea eggs
• Flea larvae
• Flea pupae
• Mature fleas

To properly get rid of fleas, you must tackle every stage of the flea lifecycle, which we outline below. 

Flea eggs are small and off-white, not unlike a grain of salt or sand, making them hard to see with the naked eye. If you find them in your pet's bed, you might even dismiss flea eggs as something else, like dry skin.

Once a female flea finds a suitable host, it can lay 20-50 eggs daily. Fleas usually lay eggs on the host animal. They then drop off into the environment, place such as your pet’s bed, carpets, furniture, or wherever your pet has visited. Flea eggs take 2-12 days to hatch into the next life stage. 

Many flea treatments, like FRONTLINE PLUS® Spot-On treatments, contain an extra active ingredient called (S)-Methoprene. This insect growth regulator impairs the development of immature fleas, including eggs and larvae.  

Remember, most of the flea population in your home are those you can't see. To be sure you're getting rid of all flea eggs, try: 

• Washing your pet's bedding on a hot wash (60°C or higher)
• Wash any fabrics your pet has slept on (such as sofa cushions, rugs, or your bedding) in a hot wash.
• Vacuum frequently anywhere your pet has visited, including furniture, carpets and your car, if your pet regularly goes in it.

You should also treat your home for fleas with a household flea spray like the FRONTLINE® HOMEGARD Household Flea Spray, which is designed to kill fleas and larvae in your home and prevent eggs from hatching for up to 6 months. It’s suitable for use on most non-washable furniture and home textiles, including, carpets, armchairs, and more.  For optimal results, you should treat both your pet and your home during an infestation, and never attempt to treat your pet with FRONTLINE® HOMEGARD. 

Remove all pets and children from the area you’re treating. You should also remove all pet beds and bowls, especially cat baskets or beds. Ensure any fish tanks are covered to make them airtight and pumps are switched off during treatment and until after the room has been aired.

Note, FRONTLINE HOMEGARD®  is not suitable for use directly on animals. Do not use on cats or pet baskets for cats. Keep cats away from treated surfaces. For full instructions and warnings, please read the product label before use.

When flea eggs hatch, they enter the larvae stage. While these tiny worm-like larvae are usually between 2-5mm long, you may notice[C(GPBGB1]  them wriggling around where your pet likes to sleep, such as beds, furniture, sofas, and carpets. At this stage, the larvae feed off “flea dirt” left behind by mature fleas.

With the right conditions and nutrition, flea larvae can move on to the next stage of their development within 5-21 days.  

As mentioned above, many flea treatments without vet prescriptions can kill flea eggs and larvae, assuming they contain an insect growth regulator ingredient, such as (S)-Methoprene.   

You’re more likely to find flea dirt on your pet than actual fleas. Look for any reddish-brown spots on your pet's skin and coat, and, if you can, give them the flea dirt test by putting them on a damp paper towel. Flea dirt will develop a blood halo when in contact with water because of the blood content, whereas normal dirt will not.

If you find flea dirt on your pet or anywhere in their beds or favourite spots, that is a sure sign that fleas are present.  

When flea larvae move onto their next stage, they encase themselves in a sticky cocoon to develop into adult fleas. This is the trickiest stage of the life cycle to get rid of as the outer coating of the cocoon allows them to hide deep in carpets, furniture, and around your home.  

Flea pupae are also protected from chemicals, such as those used in flea treatments. If there aren't any suitable hosts in the home, flea pupae can lay dormant for up to a year until they sense a new host through: 

• Vibrations
• Rise in carbon dioxide
• Higher temperature and humidity

Since flea pupae are protected against treatments and vacuuming, it’s essential you maintain your pet’s flea treatments so any fleas that emerge from the cocoons can be killed before they have the chance to reproduce and start the cycle over again.

Fleas emerge from their pupal stage as adult fleas looking for their first blood meal. While these adults can survive for up to three months without feeding, the females need to feed to reproduce.

These small, blackish – brown insects tend to be between 2-6 mm long, but have long back legs which allow them to jump an average of 5-6 inches in the air or 8 inches across. This gives them plenty of opportunity to leap onto your pet and start feeding. They’ll tend to keep close to your pet’s skin to feed easier, which can make them harder to spot with the naked eye, especially on thick coated pets.

If you suspect your pet has fleas but want to be sure before treating them, then we'd recommend using a suitable flea comb on the places fleas like to gather, such as: 

• The back of your pet's neck
• Between your pet's shoulder blades
• At the base of your pet's tail
• At the back of your pet's legs

The best way to prevent a flea infestation is to regularly treat all pets in the home with an effective flea treatment. You can buy plenty of over-the-counter flea treatments without a vet's prescription that will kill adult fleas on your pet. Make sure to have a browse to find the treatment that's best for your pet. Some of the best active ingredients in flea treatments include: 

• Fipronil
• Imidacloprid
• Flumethrin
• And more!

These treatments are available in several formulas, including spot-on flea treatments like the FRONTLINE® SPOT-ON range, and typically kill all adult fleas on your pet within 24 hours. For optimal protection against fleas and ticks, treat your pet every month.

Patience is essential when trying to manage a flea infestation in your home as it can take 3 or more months to get rid of them all. This means you may see fleas on your pet or in your home after applying treatments, but that’s no reason to panic. Below, we outline an effective method of getting rid of fleas in your home fast.

The first steps to getting rid of fleas is to prevent them from laying eggs. While there are no products available to repel fleas, you can break the flea lifecycle by killing fleas within 24 hours, with a suitable flea treatment, such as FRONTLINE, before they are able to lay eggs.

Flea eggs and larvae could be anywhere that your pet has been, so it’s important you tackle them head on with some serious vacuuming. Vacuum your entire house, including under furniture and paying special attention to anywhere your pet spends time. When you’re done make sure to empty your vacuum into your outside bin to prevent any fleas making their way back to your pet.

Next, wash all your pet’s bedding on a 60°C wash along with any furniture covers, bedding or curtains that might be infested. The heat of this wash is perfect for killing both eggs and larvae that may be clinging to the fabrics.

Now is the time for your household flea spray to get to work. Make sure you’ve read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and a suitable patch test has been carried out with the product to ensure no damage any delicate fabrics.

Taking it one room at a time, make sure all the doors and windows are closed and, following the product instructions, apply the flea spray along skirting boards, to any cracks or crevices, on all soft furnishings, and carpets. It’s also recommended you spray the inside of your vacuum dust bag or cylinder to prevent any fleas developing inside the appliance.

Leave the room for one hour, and then return to open the windows so it can air out. Continue this for all other rooms in your house your pet has had access to, including your car. The spray should last for up to 6 months, but in the meantime, make sure you vacuum frequently and still allow your pet access to all their usual areas. This will stimulate the flea pupae to emerge from their cocoons where they will then be killed by the treatment in your home or on your pet.

Fleas are a nuisance to both pet and owner, but you must remember to be patient. It can take 3 or more months to completely remove fleas from your home, but by remaining vigilant with your pet’s monthly flea treatments, you can ensure any fleas are killed before they get the chance to lay eggs.

If you struggle to stay up to date with your pet’s monthly flea treatment, then why not checkout our Easy-Repeat subscription service? With flexible payments and flea treatments from top brands like FRONTLINE® loving your pet well for less has never been easier.   

FRONTLINE® SPOT ON contains fipronil. UK: AVM-GSL. FRONTLINE PLUS® contains fipronil and (S)-methoprene. UK: AVM-GSL. FRONTLINE HOMEGARD® is a biocide. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd., RG12 8YS, UK. Email: petsuk@boehringer-ingelheim.com. FRONTLINE®, FRONTLINE PLUS®, FRONTLINE HOMEGARD® are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2024 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: July 2024. UI-PHC-0074-2024. Use Medicines Responsibly. 

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should thoroughly discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle with your vet before starting any program or treatment.