Continued
Flea eggs are smooth, oval and greyish white. They are about 1/4mm long, so they can be seen by the naked eye. Unlike louse eggs, they are not attached to hairs but are dropped on the ground and are therefore usually found in the nest or lair of the host ( better keep out of hubbies underpants draw..! ). The female can lay several hundred eggs in her lifetime, in groups of 4 - 8. At room temperature they will hatch in about 10 days. The larva feed on various types of organic matter including the faeces of the adult fleas, which contains undigested blood. They are white, blind and worm like and they have a row of bristles on each segment. The duration of development depends largely upon temperature and may vary from 8 to 150 days. When fully grown the larvae pupate in a cocoon spun from a salivary secretion. The cocoons are normally covered with dust and are therefore difficult to discern. The pupal stage may vary from one week to several months. The adult fleas may remain in the cocoon for a long time - even for years - waiting until an animal comes near them. Emergence from the cocoons is stimulated by vibration. If an infested house has stood empty for a long time the hungry fleas will start to emerge as soon as the new occupants move in....

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