You might be asking yourself will fleas eventually go away? While some could last 2 – 3 weeks, they could also live for up to 12 months on the host it finds, so it is unlikely they will go away on their own. Fleas can also reproduce very quickly by laying eggs in carpet, bedding, or garden prolonging the
The good news is, the fleas in your house are most likely to be cat or dog fleas, so although they will bite humans, they don't consider us a suitable host to live and breed on (they prefer dogs and cats). This means, eventually they'll just die off.
Undisturbed and without a blood meal, 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.
Can Fleas Live in Your Bed? These pests infest multiple areas in homes, especially mattresses, cushions, and carpeting. Pets transfer fleas to the beds and furniture where they sleep. From here, the insects quickly spread around the house.
How Long Do Fleas Live In Your House? The average life cycle of a flea is about 100 days, but fleas' lifespans can be quite variable. If conditions are favorable, these insects can even live indoors for up to a year!
Though they often burrow under comforters and sheets, fleas don't typically dwell in beds long term because they can only live without blood for about one or two weeks. Still, you'll want to look out for the signs so you can eliminate them as quickly as possible.
Fleas generally cannot live in human hair. While most species prefer to live on the furs of animals, they can use humans as temporary vectors. In such cases, fleas can infest and bite humans. You may get infected if there is a serious case of flea infestation in your environment.
While fleas can technically lay eggs on our scalp, the possibility of this happening is extremely rare. Given how much these small parasites can disrupt a household, however, knowing all you can about fleas can help you avoid an infestation or manage an existing flea problem.
They may come through with an old piece of furniture or clothing and skin of a person who already has been infested. Fleas typically don't use humans in particular as hosts, but they may travel through us. But fleas don't necessarily need hosts to enter our homes.
It can take up to 3 months to break a total flea life cycle by using monthly flea treatments. For indoor flea control, vacuuming all floors, carpets, baseboards, pet bedding and furniture will help remove adult fleas and eggs.
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).
THE HUMAN FLEA
This flea does live its adult stages of life anywhere on the body where there is hair. This can be the eyelashes, eyebrows, armpits or pubic areas.
Fleas may also nest in carpets, rugs, pet beds, or upholstered furniture where they can stay warm. Fleas and bedbugs are considered nocturnal creatures, which means they are mainly active at night. However, they can bite you at any time of the day or night. Fleas are most active at dusk and least active at sunrise.
A red halo is often visible around the center of the bite. Fleas like to hide on your pet's neck, ears, back, belly, and near the base of the tail. On humans, you are likely to notice bites on legs and ankles. You may also find flea bites around your waist, armpits, groin, and in the folds of your elbows and knees.
Flea bites often occur on the lower legs and feet, protect these areas with long socks and pants. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings.
After a flea bites you, a small, discolored bump forms. A discolored ring or halo may appear around the bite. Flea bites may appear in a straight line or a cluster of many bites. Flea bites most commonly occur on your legs, especially your feet, calves and ankles.
The fastest ways to get rid of fleas on your own are vacuuming and steam cleaning, washing bedding in hot water and drying it on hot heat, and applying chemical treatment.
For mild or light infestations, washing the bedding thoroughly in hot, soapy water is necessary for killing fleas and destroying their eggs and larvae. You are going to have to wash your pet's bedding like this every week for at least one month, or until you are sure the infestation is over.
Washing clothing and fabrics might not be a 100% cure for a flea infestation, but as long as you wash absolutely everything, it will take a sizable chunk out of the population.
Fleas are bad for your house and your health
While this is more likely to become a problem if you do have pets, fleas in a house without pets can cause serious problems for your family. A flea infestation should be taken care of as soon as possible.
Both thrive in warmer climates and fleas are particularly favorable to humid conditions. Fleas are most active in the early spring, summer, and fall. Adult fleas may have a hard time surviving harsh winters. But flea eggs, flea pupae, and larvae can survive all year.
It's hard to know when the immature stages are gone, because they are hidden in the environment. One way is to place a flea trap in hot-spot rooms. Traps are useful for monitoring populations of newly emerging adults. Without pets (and with an IGR sprayed) there should be no more new eggs.
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.