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When
eggs hatch, fleas enter the larval stage which lasts approximately
one to two weeks, depending on the environment. Larvae begin spinning
whitish cocoons (properly called pupae) where the worm develops
into an adult flea, metamorphosing from the cocoon in as little
as one week or as many as six months. Three factors can accelerate
emergence from the cocoon: warm temperatures from a sleeping host
animal, hummidity, and vibrations, whether caused by footsteps,
vacuum cleaners or other sources. Upon entering the adult stage,
a flea will immediately seek a host to feed from and will be able
to reproduce. Thus, the flea life cycle begins anew. The female
flea will lay 20 to 50 eggs per day and can continue doing this
for over three months. Two out of three fleas are female, so the
possibility for huge infestations, in a relatively short time,
can be predicted during the course of one flea season (a season
which usually begins in April in warmer climates and extends through
September).
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