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Flea Larvae
•Flea larvae complete three larval instars, and depending on their environment will range in length from about 3 to 5 mm long.
•They have no eyes or legs, and their body is maggot-like and whitish, but turns progressively darker as the larvae feeds on feces excreted by the adult fleas.
•Unlike adult fleas, larvae do not take a blood meals directly from a host.
•Flea larval survival depends on relative humidity and temperatures. Since dehydration is fatal to flea larvae, they will not survive relative humidity less than 45 to 50 percent or soil temperatures greater than 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
•However, outdoor larvae will survive in cool, shaded areas and do very well in crawl spaces. In environments of suitable humidity and temperatures, fleas will develop year round.
