Backward-pointing bristles help fleas move through the hairs or feathers of host animals and make them more difficult to remove by grooming. The six legs, especially the hind pair, are long and adapted for jumping. The most likely place to find larvae is in infested pet bedding. Understanding fleas During their life cycle fleas pass through four stages-egg, larva, pupa and adult. Although they can jump, adult fleas do not usually travel long distances without a host.
Fleas prefer to wait and jump onto a passing animal.
Once aboard, they remain until they are dislodged or groomed from the animal. Without a host, adult fleas live only a few days to 2 weeks. The female flea begins laying eggs within 2 days of her first blood meal. Four to 9 days later she produces an average of 27 eggs per day, consuming about 15 times her body weight in blood daily. Much of this blood is excreted as partially digested feces.