Problems Getting Rid of Fleas

Most pet owners cringe when they find a flea on their pet. One flea can signal an infestation, since the majority of these wingless bloodsuckers don't show themselves. This is partly due to the flea's life cycle, but mostly because they only stay on your pet 90 percent of the time. With the fruitfulness of the female flea and the ineffectiveness of many flea treatments, it's small wonder there are so many problems getting rid of fleas.

  1. Busy Mamas

    • The female flea is a powerhouse of reproduction. One female can lay 50 eggs on your pet or in its bedding in a single day. Within a week 350 new fleas are preparing to inhabit your home. The adult female flea lays more than 2,000 eggs in her nearly six-week lifespan.

    Sneaky Pupae

    • One reason fleas are so hard to get rid of is how long they can lie dormant. The flea's life cycle progresses from egg to larvae to pupae to adult. This process usually takes from one week to one year, according to University of California Integrated Pest Management. However, if conditions are not right, this process can take more than 18 months. Pupae mature while in their cocoons, lying hidden in your carpets for up to 18 months before adults emerge. The flea treatment you may have used last summer to get rid of fleas is ineffective after such a long time.

    Warm Weather

    • Fleas thrive in warm weather, according to University of California Integrated Pest Management. Fleas may be in your home when the weather is cool, but generally they are lying dormant in their cocoons. When spring and summer arrive, the warmer weather prompts the adult fleas to emerge from their cocoons and search for a blood meal. Flea larvae hatch best in humid, warm, protected areas, such as the folds of your pet's blanket.

    Hiding Places

    • Nearly 95 percent of fleas in your home are unseen, according to Marysville Veterinary Hospital. Most of these fleas are in the early stages of life --- eggs, larvae and pupae --- but some are just roaming around. Fleas hop on and off your pet regularly, spending only about 10 percent of their time on the animal itself. This behavior is one reason treating the entire home is important. Carpets where the pet spends time and its bedding are especially critical areas to clean and treat. Shady outdoor areas where your pet rests are also favorite flea hiding places.