What is flea larvae?

Flea larvae are the immature, worm-like stage in the flea life cycle that emerges after flea eggs hatch. They are tiny, usually about 2–5 millimeters long, and have a pale, whitish body with no legs or eyes. Because they're sensitive to light, flea larvae tend to hide in dark, protected areas such as carpets, pet bedding, cracks in floors, soil, or upholstery.

Here is an image of flea larvae:

Unlike adult fleas, flea larvae do not feed on blood. Instead, they survive by eating organic debris found in their environment, especially “flea dirt,” which is the dried blood excreted by adult fleas. They may also consume skin flakes, hair, and other small particles.

Over a period of several days to a couple of weeks, flea larvae grow and molt through multiple stages. Once fully developed, they spin a silk-like cocoon and enter the pupal stage. Inside this cocoon, they transform into adult fleas.

Click here to see the full flea life cycle!

Flea larvae play a critical role in sustaining flea infestations because they are difficult to detect and stay hidden. In order to eradicate flea larvae, you have to use effective flea treatment that kills flea eggs before they grow into biting adults, like the Itch Flea Treatment for Cats and Itch Flea Treatment for Dogs.

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What is flea larvae?