Flea eggs can survive for about 10 days, tops. “If they don't hatch in 10 days, they won't,” Dryden says. Flea eggs need a warm, humid environment—anywhere from 70 to 90 degrees and 75 to 85 percent humidity. Under ideal conditions, the larvae can hatch in as little as 36 hours.
Additionally, unhatched flea larva can lay dormant living inside their flea cocoons for up to five months, or until conditions are optimal to hatch.
“Egg-Stopper” Collars- Unlike conventional flea collars, these contain an insect growth regulating ingredient (methoprene or pyriproxyfen) which prevents egg hatch for several months.
Remember: Adult fleas can live up to two weeks without attaching themselves to a host. So, although females can't reproduce during that time, they still have up to two weeks to find a host and reproduce.
Adult fleas will be killed within a few days but the floor should not be vacuumed, swept or washed for at least two weeks after treatment because there will still be eggs which will continue to hatch.
Flea larvae can remain dormant in your home for months, so new fleas may continue to emerge — even after treatment. These fleas will quickly die after hatching if you've treated your home and kept up with regular flea preventive for your pet, but it can take a while for all the existing fleas to hatch and be killed.
When the temperature and humidity are right flea eggs will be constantly hatching out. New adult fleas will also constantly emerge from the pupae stage when the conditions are right. The new adult fleas will only hatch when a host animal is close by, as they need a blood meal to survive.
The sofa, the carpet, a chair, a bed…these are all places where flea eggs from an infested pet could land and turn to larvae. Your furniture is prime real estate for eggs or larvae before they mature into adult fleas, but the adults won't stay outside of the cocoon for longer than a quick moment.
Fleas cannot fly, but they move by jumping from object to object. 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.
It can take up to 3 months to fully resolve a flea infestation (or even longer in some cases) - see “What is the best way to resolve a home infestation?” for advice on eradicating a flea problem as quickly as possible.
Salt dries out fleas just like diatomaceous earth, but it's less messy, and unlike diatomaceous earth, it doesn't pose a respiratory threat when used indoors. Borax powder is also effective against fleas and their larvae.
Many different products are available for home flea treatment. The most effective ones contain ingredients such as permethrin, imidacloprid, or dinotefuran that are lethal to the biting adult stage, and an “insect growth regulator” (e.g., methoprene, pyriproxyfen) that halts development of flea eggs and larvae.
Flea infestations can lay dormant for around nine months, depending on factors like heat and humidity. So, if the previous occupants were pet parents, their pets could have left an infestation behind.
In dry conditions, flea eggs will desiccate without hatching. A relative humidity below 50% is often lethal. While 80% of flea eggs survive when RH exceeds 50%.
On average, a flea can live for two to three months in the carpet. But without intervention, they can stay in the carpet without end if they have a host. If a blood meal isn't consumed the flea may only survive for a few days. Flea eggs live for two to three days before hatching.
A recommended chemical product to control fleas on pets would be Petcor and Martin's Prefurred. Petcor 2 Flea and Tick Spray is a pyrethroid-based chemical product that has an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) that will kill the undeveloped stages of fleas (eggs, larval, and pupal) for a month on cats or dogs.
Eggs. Female fleas can lay anywhere up to 50 eggs a day. These eggs are small, oval, and white. They roll and fall off the animal onto the ground where, in the right conditions, they hatch out into larvae within 2 to 12 days.
1) Treat your pets with a quality flea treatment. This will stop them being a host for the adult fleas to feed on and grow. It will also stop fleas from being transported around the property. 2) Wash bedding, toys and clothing in warm soapy water.
Flea Eggs Hiding in Carpet
Fleas lay their eggs in the carpet because it provides a relatively safe space for them. To check for eggs, put on gloves and run your fingers through the carpet. Eggs tend to very small and white. Because they are so small, you may need a magnifying glass.
During daylight hours, House Flies will rest on floors, walls, and ceilings indoors. Outdoors they will rest on plants, on the ground, on fence wires, garbage cans, and other similar surfaces. At night, they will rest principally on ceilings, electric wires, and dangling light cords indoors.
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.
Flea Eggs Aren't Black
They're a semi-transparent white to off-white color.
If you can see them, flea eggs on a dog will often appear as tiny white specks, small white flecks, or tiny grains of salt. They're usually clustered together.
Larvae are a significant part of the flea problem: they are the invisible army that makes flea infestations persistent. Eliminating the flea larvae population should be considered as a way to help control fleas on your pet.