Why the Flea is Such a Fierce Enemy
Fleas have a number of strategic advantages in this war:
1. Masters of Maneuvers – Fleas are tiny, hard-shelled insects with incredible
muscle power in their hind legs; they can jump 4-5 feet horizontally (or nearly a foot
straight up). They're fast. They're adaptable. And they're hard to kill.
2. Stormtrooper Mentality – Fleas come with three basic marching orders,
or biological imperatives: to survive, to eat, and to reproduce. They are entirely
devoted to these orders. And they are very, very good at all of them. They are
especially good at reproducing; an adult female lays about 20 eggs at a time.
In her lifetime (depending on conditions, up to 1-1/2 years), she may produce
hundreds, even thousands of eggs.
3. Effective Recruitment - The female flea typically lays her tiny white eggs
in dark, damp places. If she lays any eggs on your pet, they will fall off…but they
could travel all around the house or yard first. Within their hiding places, the eggs
will hatch in about a week (although they can delay hatching until conditions
are ideal) into larvae. The larvae then pupate by spinning cocoons, in which they
can finish their development in a week, but they can survive in their cocoons
for up to 6 months.
4. Subterfuge Specialists – For every single adult flea you see, there are
about 10 cocoons, 35 larvae and 50 eggs hiding in carpets, pet beds, cracks,
corners, and furniture.
5. Weapons of Mass Annoyance – Flea bites are itchy because, when fleas
bite to feed, they inject blood thinning compounds to prevent clotting during
dinner. Not only do these anti-clotting proteins cause itching, but they can also
cause the immune system to mount an allergic reaction. Flea-allergic dermatitis
is one of the most common skin complaints in pets. For an allergic animal, just
one flea bite can cause a massive and prolonged reaction. Fleas can also transmit
diseases such as bubonic plague, typhus, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain
spotted fever, as well as tapeworms.
6. Efficient Defenses – Most chemicals, including bombs and sprays,
kill only adult fleas or adults and larvae. That leaves thousands of tough little
eggs and cocoons just waiting for the proper conditions, when they'll renew their
assault once more. Fleas are also well defended against famine conditions—one
blood meal can keep an adult flea alive up to two months.
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