Ticks and fleas: tiny creepy crawlies you'd rather not have in your garden or house. They seem to appear out of nowhere, and before you know it, your pets are scratching themselves silly. But where do they come from? How long do they actually live? And why are they so persistent? Let's take a closer look at their life cycle.
How long do ticks and fleas live?
An adult tick can survive for months or even years, depending on the species and conditions. Fleas live shorter: an average of 2 to 4 weeks, but during that time they reproduce rapidly. Their strength lies not in their longevity, but in their speed and persistence.
How come I have so much trouble with ticks and fleas?
It's in their life cycle. It ensures you encounter them again and again:
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Eggs: An adult flea lays up to 50 eggs per day , usually in an animal's fur. These fall off and land on carpets, cushions, furniture, or in the garden. The larvae hatch within 2 to 5 days.
- Ticks lay their eggs outdoors, often in grass or leaves. Depending on the species, they hatch after 2 to 6 weeks .
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Larvae: Flea larvae crawl into dark, damp places and feed on organic debris, including flea dirt. This stage lasts about 5 to 10 days .
- Tick larvae wait for a host, suck blood, and then slowly develop further. Each stage can last several weeks to months , depending on temperature and food.
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Pupae/transition stage: Fleas create a cocoon in which they pupate. In this stage, they can survive for two weeks to even six months without food, until they sense vibration, heat, or carbon dioxide.
- Ticks grow step by step: from larva to nymph to adult. Each transition occurs only after a blood meal and can take weeks to months .
- Adult: The adult flea jumps onto an animal, begins biting within minutes, and can reproduce within 24 hours .
Because eggs and larvae can hide anywhere, it's difficult to get rid of them all at once. You often only target a portion of the population, while the rest quietly develops in the background.
