These larva eventually wrap themselves in a cocoon called a pupa. This final pre-adult stage is very rugged, resistant to most flea control substances and may remain dormant for up to 2 years. Eventually, an adult flea emerges from the pupa and the cycle starts again. An adult flea normally lives for 60-90 days. A quick calculation will show that each adult female can of lay thousands of eggs in her lifetime.
Fleas can also carry the larva of a tapeworm.
When your pet chews itself to relieve itching it may ingest a flea that has a tapeworm larva inside it. The pet then becomes infected with tapeworms, which they shed into their environment. While tapeworms are easily treated, flea prevention is the most effective method of preventing tapeworms in your pets. We must fight fleas on our pets, in our homes and in our yards. Each of these battlegrounds requires different weapons and strategies.