Unfortunately, flea problems are widespread. Once a home becomes infested, control can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. A flea-infested dog or cat can introduce hundreds of new flea eggs into the home each day. There are more than 200 species of fleas in this country and they will feed on anyone in the household cat, dog or human. These insects will most likely choose a pet, whose fur provides warm camouflage for their breeding ground. By mid- to late summer, pet owners often find themselves fighting a losing battle against established flea populations that are enormous.
The flea life cycle has four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Female fleas lay as many as 50 eggs a day, starting a life cycle that can be completed in as little as three weeks, depending on temperature and humidity. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on "flea dirt," excrement of partially digested blood. Larvae grow and molt twice, then spin cocoons, where they grow to pupae and then adults. The adult remains in the cocoon until vibrations indicate a host is nearby. This waiting can extend the life cycle. It also explains why large numbers of fleas often are seen when an empty building is reoccupied. Six-legged adults emerge and attach to a host to feed and breed, beginnning the cycle all over again.
