What Do Flea Eggs Look Like?

Flea eggs are the first stage in the life cycle of a flea, and they are so small that you can barely see them with the naked eye. Knowing what flea eggs look like can help you identify a flea infestation and take action to remove them. Understanding the life cycle of a flea is essential in taking steps to break the cycle, as well as preventing future infestations.

What Are Flea Eggs?

Flea eggs are the first form of the flea life cycle. They are tiny, clear oval shaped eggs that measure around 0.5mm in size. They are laid by the adult fleas, usually right after feeding on the host. An adult female flea can lay up to 50 eggs in 24 hours. Flea eggs are laid in batches of 10-20 and they hatch within 2-14 days.

Where Do Flea Eggs Come From?

Flea eggs are laid by adult fleas on their host, most commonly cats and dogs, but sometimes also humans. The fleas will feed on the host’s blood and soon afterwards, start laying eggs. Once the eggs are laid, they will immediately start to drop off the animal and fall onto the ground, furniture, carpets and other areas in your home.

The flea eggs will then hatch and turn into larvae which will feed on flea dirt, skin cells and other proteins until they become adults. If a host animal is not available, the larvae will exist as endoparasites and feed on the blood of any warm-blooded animal or human they come in contact with.

How To Identify Flea Eggs

In most cases it is hard to identify flea eggs on cats and dogs because of how small they are. It is easier to identify them when they have already fallen off on furniture and carpets, but even then it can be difficult to spot them.

The best way to identify flea eggs is to use a flea comb, which you can purchase from online or a pet store. This type of comb has very fine teeth, which are designed to pick up flea eggs. After combing your pet, you can then put the comb against a light surface or piece of white paper to see if there are any eggs. They will look like tiny white dots on the bristles of the comb.

Conclusion

Knowing what flea eggs look like is the first step towards identifying and removing them before they hatch. If you suspect that you have a flea infestation, it is important to take action as soon as possible to break the cycle and prevent future infestations. There are many professional flea removal services that can help you if the problem persists.