How long do fleas live without an animal in an apartment and where do they live?

How long do fleas live in an apartment, how many days do they die after treatment, why do they not die even when the animals are no longer in the house - the answers to these questions lie in the biology of the parasites.

How long a flea can live without feeding on blood outside an animal depends on environmental conditions and the stage of the insect's life cycle. First, let's establish how many years, months or days earth fleas can live in different circumstances - favorable and extreme.

How long do fleas live in artificial conditions?

In the laboratory

In laboratory conditions, adult cat fleas live for months. In one artificial system, the maximum lifespan was 86 days. In another experiment, when fleas were fed human blood, their lifespan reached 139-185 days!

On an animal

The flea lives on the body of the owner for a long time, provided that the animal does not take care of itself. For example, one experiment showed that 94.1% of females and 89.2% of males survived for 14 days on cats. In another experiment, cats had their nails trimmed and were given conical collars to prevent grooming. After 50 days, 85% of females and 60% of males were still alive. And after 113 days, 76% of females and 50% of males were still living on cats.

Symptoms indicating a dog infection

In addition to a visual examination of the pet, the presence of “bloodsuckers” is indicated by the following symptoms:

The dog itches and does it continuously.
The animal suddenly jumps up and tries to bite itself.
Red spots of unknown etiology appear on the dog's skin.
Bald patches, sores and scratches form on the dog's body.
The animal whines pitifully for some unknown reason.
The dog begins to shed prematurely.
The pet becomes restless and irritable, loses appetite, and suffers from insomnia.
A sharp decrease in the animal’s weight with proper feeding.

As soon as the animal shows the above signs, it must be immediately shown to a veterinarian

to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Delay in this matter is unacceptable.

How long do fleas live and how do they die in natural conditions?

Animal hygiene habits are the main factor in flea mortality

In real conditions, 95% of fleas die as a result of the host animal grooming itself. Unlike temporary parasites, such as mosquitoes, fleas, after feeding on blood, remain on the host’s body, where they live permanently. Therefore, the instinctive care of animals for their fur is the main cause of death of parasites. On the other hand, on the animal's body, fleas are protected from exposure to harsh environmental conditions.

How many fleas do cats clean?

Cats kill over 50% of adult fleas per week, averaging 3-12 per day. In one study, cats cleared 19.5% of female and 38.5% of male fleas in a week. In three weeks, a cat can remove 90% of fleas from its fur. Only 2-3% of insects will survive longer than this period. But some individual parasites manage to avoid purges and not get caught. There was a recorded case where a flea lived on an animal for 9 weeks.

How long does a cat flea live without a cat?

If a cat finds a flea, it eats it - this is how the vast majority of the parasite population dies. A small percentage of them end up released into the external environment. During cleaning, discarded fleas receive damage that causes them to die - their heads or paws are torn off. However, the body of an adult flea is tough and elastic, so some of them survive. But if after a couple of days the discarded fleas do not return to the host’s body, they will die of starvation.

Some animals groom themselves more thoroughly than others.

Sensitivity to fleas varies among individual animals. Some brush constantly, while others tolerate small to moderate amounts of fleas. The sensitivity factor directly affects the degree of parasite infestation. Animals that do not tend to groom their fur are preferred hosts for fleas. Those pets who are allergic to fleas clean themselves meticulously and quickly reduce the degree of infestation.

One study looked at the hygiene habits of four cats. The least active removed 4.1% of fleas per day (22% per week) from fur, and the average lifespan of parasites was 18 days. The cleanest cat cleared 17.6% of fleas daily (68% per week), allowing them to live an average of 5 days.

Animal age factor

Young animals tend to have larger flea populations than adults. This is due to the fact that young cats still lack experience in fighting parasites. In addition, adult cats have better developed immunity, thicker skin, and differently located capillaries.

Important Factors

The influence of air humidity - individuals live longer if the air humidity is lower. Humidity is an important factor on which the life of an insect depends, but temperature indicators are more important for them. That is why an excellent place for them to live is the basement in an old apartment building, where utilities are leaking.
The lifespan of parasites depends on the availability of food sources; individuals can starve for a long time, and the lifespan during hunger strike can, in some cases, increase.
Physical indicators of the habitat also affect the life of bloodsuckers. With static temperature fluctuations, individuals can hibernate. Under such living conditions, the lifespan of the insect increases.

The success of reproduction of individuals depends on time, the speed of the process and the number of eggs produced by each individual individual. When exterminating fleas, it is worth carrying out global baiting; both adult individuals and their nits must be destroyed. Thus, now you know how long a flea lives and how to completely destroy it in a short time.

How long does a flea live outside an animal at extreme temperatures?

Cold and frost

Sub-zero temperatures are lethal to fleas. At temperatures just below zero, adults emerging from cocoons die within 5 days. At 3-5 degrees above zero, fleas die within 10 days. The lower limit of survival is +8 degrees - at this temperature, 50% of fleas survive for 20 days. So in winter, fleas cannot live outside without an animal. Immature fleas are more sensitive to cold than adults. Eggs and larvae will not develop if the temperature does not exceed +13 degrees.

Heat and dryness

Heat above 35 degrees is deadly for fleas. At low relative humidity, fleas die within 2 days. In addition, the larvae die inside the cocoons at this temperature. The flea population does not survive outdoors if the heat above +35˚C lasts more than 40 hours during the month.

Long-lived fleas, or when parasites break records

In general, of all fleas, the largest species live the longest, parasitizing mainly on ungulates.

The so-called “variegated worm” - the Tien Shan flea, reaching a length of 7 mm - lives on sheep for about a year. Some fleas that parasitize northern animals can fall into prolonged torpor during the winter period and generally live for more than 14-16 months. At low temperatures for these species, their lifespan can be several years.

But about the lifespan of fleas on humans and animals, it should be said separately - due to established stereotypes, many incorrectly believe that parasites live on their hosts permanently.

How long can adult fleas live without food?

After emerging from the cocoon

At home, adults newly emerging from cocoons must drink their first blood within a week so as not to die of hunger. In a number of experiments they survived longer, but two weeks is the ceiling. 95% of young hungry fleas at +24˚C and a relative humidity of 78% die in 15 days, and at +22.5˚C and a relative humidity of 60% - in 12.3 days.

Fleas that do not feed on blood survive much longer, up to 40 days, in a humid environment at relatively low temperatures. In cool, damp air (62%), young fleas will live even 70 days without animal blood. But such conditions are found only in the basements of apartment buildings, and not in residential premises.

Discarded from the owner

Once on the host, fleas immediately begin to feed. During the day, the insect doubles in size and triples the supply of proteins in the body. Once thrown from the animal, the flea loses its accumulated weight and protein supply within 12 hours. After 12 hours of fasting, death can occur as a result of malnutrition. If fleas only have access to food for 2-3 hours a day, they are malnourished.

Blood addiction threshold

When feeding on a host, at a certain point fleas pass a point at which they require a constant source of blood to survive. This is reminiscent of drug addiction. Males removed from the animal after 5 days of feeding die within 48 hours, and females die within 96 hours. Survival outside the animal increases sharply (up to 14 days) if the initial feeding period is limited to 12 hours, since in this case the dependence threshold is not reached.

Preventive measures

Home remedy for fleas.
Following simple recommendations will help prevent fleas from appearing in your home:

wash domestic dogs and cats with a special shampoo and use preventive means to combat parasites;
when visiting the forest, wear clothes that cover exposed areas of the body as much as possible;
avoid contact with street animals;
regularly clean the room with a vacuum cleaner of soft surfaces;
wash clothes in hot water and store them only after they are completely dry;

It is also recommended to regularly remove debris from basements.

Where do fleas live in an apartment if there are no animals (photo)

For the full development of a flea colony, the presence of furry animals or birds is necessary. If adult parasites accidentally end up in an apartment where there are no animals, they will live for some time on human blood.

In the absence of animals, the habitat of fleas in the apartment is limited to shaded, cool areas on the floor, where they are not too noticeable.

Can fleas live in hair and on the human body?

Fleas do not live on humans, unlike head and pubic lice; after feeding on blood, they immediately leave the human body. If a flea is disturbed while feeding, the insect may linger on the clothing on the underside. In rare cases, the flea remains in clothing for 1-2 days without finding a way out, and periodically bites. Fleas do not prefer humans as hosts due to their scanty hair.

The basement is a favorable environment for parasites

Separately, it is worth mentioning the basements of private houses and high-rise buildings. Parasites can even appear in new buildings.

There is a concept called “basement fleas,” which includes all insects that can live in basements and be carried by animals and people. Most often these are rat or cat fleas. The opinion that there is no need to fight the insects living there is wrong. They are easily carried on the soles of shoes and in the folds of clothing. Plumbers, electricians and other people who must periodically go down to the basement for work, as well as the residents of the house themselves, can also become unwitting carriers. Mice and rats actively spread fleas. The fleas themselves don't sit still either. The need to feed forces them to climb ventilation and plumbing, and climb into housing through cracks in the floor.

To get rid of fleas in the basement, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the premises on the part of the management company (in high-rise buildings) and on the part of the owners and residents (in private houses). This is the elimination of leaks, broken windows and doors, and the extermination of rats. Flea control is also required.

How long do flea eggs and larvae live and where do they live?

The secret of the survivability of these parasites lies in the early stages of the life cycle. As you know, fleas go through 4 stages of development, starting with the egg.

How long does it take for flea eggs to hatch?

In an apartment, most flea eggs end up in floor carpets and animal bedding. Hatching eggs requires a combination of suitable temperature and humidity, and the microclimate inside the carpet pile is ideal. In an apartment at room temperature, the larva emerges from the egg after 2-3 days. In less comfortable conditions, the period of egg development lasts 8-12 days.

How long does it take for flea larvae to develop?

The development period of the larvae, depending on the conditions, varies from 5 to 45 days. In addition to comfortable temperature and humidity, flea larvae need sufficient food. The larvae feed on semi-digested dry blood, which is excreted in the form of excrement by the imago. In an apartment where an infected pet lives, carpets and bedding are replete with both eggs and flea excrement.

As a rule, in an apartment the period of larval development before pupation is 7-12 days. In a cooler and drier environment and with poorer nutrition, the larvae develop in 28-45 days.

How long does the pupal stage last?

The pupal stage consists of three stages: prepupa, pupa and preimaginal stage. These stages take place inside the cocoon, and in total they usually last 7-19 days. Males develop 14-20% longer than females. With a decrease in environmental temperature, the period of development of the pupa increases. For example, at a temperature of 27˚C the female develops in 8 days, the male in 10 days, and at a temperature of 15˚C the female develops in 27 days and the male in 32 days.

The timing of pupal development is also affected by relative humidity and how well the larva has been fed. The more abundant the food was at the larval stage, the longer the pupal stage lasts. This is due to the fact that the biological mechanism for exiting the cocoon is triggered when the level of fluid and nutritional reserves of the body reaches a critical level. In one experiment, a larva that was starved before pupation passed through the pupal stage in 8 days, and a larva that fed abundantly passed through the pupal stage in 56 days.

But the pre-imaginal stage, when an adult flea has developed from a larva but has not yet emerged from the cocoon, can last much longer - up to 5 months. The trigger for the exit of the imago from the cocoon is the presence of the future host, which insects recognize by temperature and pressure when they step on it. The flea will not leave the cocoon until it receives these signals.

Ways to fight

First you need to find the source of the parasites. If these are pets, then the wool should be treated. If insects have entered from the basement, then it is necessary to seal all visible cracks in the floor and walls and treat the room with insecticidal agents.

Chemicals

The chemicals that make up flea products act on their nervous system, blocking the transmission of nerve impulses, after which paralysis and death of the parasite occurs.

For home disinfestation, products in the form of an aerosol, powder or chalk are suitable. During treatment, it is necessary to evacuate people and animals living in the premises. After measures to destroy parasites, ventilation and wet cleaning are carried out.

Flea remedy “Kombat Super Spray”.

Room treatment products:

“Combat Super Spray”. The product is available in the form of a spray that contains imiprotrin and cefenothrin as active ingredients. The spray has a low level of toxicity, but can cause poisoning in animals and children. The aromatic additives included in the composition eliminate the unpleasant odor of insecticides.
"Clean house". The insecticide is available in spray and powder form and contains tetramethrin and cypermethrin. The spray is sprayed in areas where fleas are expected to live; it has a toxic effect only on adult fleas, but does not destroy their eggs. The powder should be diluted with water before use. Using a spray bottle, treat surfaces in the house with the resulting solution.
"Executioner". An insecticidal agent whose action is due to the substance fenthion. Fenthion, when sprayed, enters the respiratory tract of the parasite and kills it.

Animal treatment products:

Entomozan. Antiparasitic agent containing cypermethrin 10%. The product is suitable for treating the hair of domestic and farm animals.
Stronghold. The product is used to kill fleas and prevent re-infection. The active substance selamectin blocks the activity of nerve cells of parasites and leads to their death. The drug is applied topically to the animal’s skin in the withers area.
Comfortis. Available in the form of tablets for oral administration. The active substance spinosad, entering the parasite's body with food, causes paralysis of its nervous system and death.

Comfortis flea repellent for animals.

Traditional methods

are not as effective as drugs based on chemical compounds, but in situations where it is not possible to use chemicals, you can use traditional methods of getting rid of parasites:

Impact of temperatures. In winter, you can leave your apartment with the windows open for a day to create a negative temperature in the room. In summer, bedding and items with long pile can be hung in the open sun for 2 days.
The smell of wormwood or tansy. In places where insects are expected to be located, you can lay out herbs, the pungent odor of which is unpleasant for fleas.
Treating carpets with salt. When salt comes into contact with the integumentary membrane of the parasite, it becomes dehydrated and dies. Salt must be sprinkled onto the carpet, rubbing it to the base of the pile. Leave the carpet in this form for 3 days and then vacuum it.

How quickly do fleas die when treated with insecticides?

After synchronous treatment of the premises and pets, flea imagoes die within 1-2 days. But the insecticide does not penetrate deep into the carpet, where eggs, larvae and pupae hide. In addition, the cocoon reliably protects the pupa from chemical exposure.

After how many days should I re-treat fleas?

When using long-acting contact preparations, adults emerging from cocoons will die within 3-4 weeks. However, over time, the properties of the chemical weaken. It is recommended to re-treat the premises after 2-3 weeks. As a rule, two or three treatments are enough to remove a colony of domestic fleas.

Pest control

The lifespan of a flea, even under favorable conditions, is about 3 months - during this time it will have time to cause a lot of trouble. Therefore, you need to quickly purchase a special spray against blood-sucking pests. Standard packaging is designed to cover an area of about 10 square meters. You can carry out disinfestation yourself or with the help of a service that processes apartments.

It is necessary to spray the product especially carefully in areas where fleas live. These are cracks in the floor, hard-to-reach places behind furniture, areas behind baseboards, etc. After treatment, leave the room for at least 2 hours.
The floor should not be washed for at least 5 days. The flea nest, wherever it is, will suffer, but the eggs will be untouched. After a few days, larvae will emerge from them, which will die only after contact with the treated surface. If 3 weeks after disinsection the insects are still jumping, the procedure should be repeated.

Important!
When working with toxic substances, you must wear a respirator and gloves.

Video

Sources:

Wade, SE & Georgi, JR Survival and reproduction of artificially fed cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis Bouché (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) // J. Med. Entomol. 25, 186–190 (1988)
Kern, W.H., Koehler, P.G. & Patterson, R.S. Diel Patterns of Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Egg and Fecal Deposition // Journal of Medical Entomology 29, 203–206 (1992)
Rust, M. K. Interhost movement of adult cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) // J. Med. Entomol. 31, 486–489 (1994)
Hinkle, NC, Koehler, PG & Patterson, RS Host Grooming Efficiency for Regulation of Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Populations // Journal of Medical Entomology 35, 266–269 (1998)
Dryden, M.W. Host association, on-host longevity and egg production of Ctenocephalides felis felis // Veterinary Parasitology 34, 117–122 (1989)
Dryden, M. W. Biology of Fleas of Dogs and Cats // The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 15, 569–578 (1993)

Dmitry Lipchiu