You’ll often hear people say, “it’s the tick and flea season,” as if there’s only one season for these pests. In reality, fleas can be a problem all year long. But do fleas like wet or dry conditions?
While it’s true that fleas can thrive in all kinds of climates, they thrive best during the summer and spring seasons because they prefer warm, moist, and humid environments. The moist environment during summer and spring is where they lay their eggs and develop the fastest.
If you live in an area with a mild climate, then you may have fleas all year long. When the environment is too dry, it could kill fleas and their eggs. If it’s too hot, the fleas will get dehydrated and die.
While a flea’s life cycle can vary depending on the temperature and humidity, the average flea lives for about 100 days. In that time, a female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, totaling around 2000 eggs in her lifetime. That’s why it’s so important to take
How the Weather Affects Fleas?
Fleas can live in both wet and dry conditions. However, they prefer dryer environments because they need to be able to move around to mate and lay eggs. If the environment is too wet, it will limit their movement and make it harder for them to find food.
Additionally, fleas like warm environments because they need warmth to survive. In cold weather, fleas will go into a state of dormancy called torpor to survive.
Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity to conserve energy. This means that the fleas will be less active and won’t bite as much. However, they can still survive in cold weather if they find a warm host to live on.
Fleas Living Conditions
While most fleas are found in the environment, some fleas will live on their host. This is usually because the host provides everything that the flea needs: warmth, food, and moisture.
The type of environment that a flea lives in can also affect its lifespan. For example, indoor fleas usually live shorter lives than outdoor fleas because they don’t have access to as many hosts.
Additionally, fleas that live in clean environments usually have shorter lifespans than fleas that live in dirty environments because they’re more likely to be exposed to pesticides and other chemicals.
Humidity & Temperature
One study found that fleas survived the longest in dry conditions with a humidity level of 30 to 40 percent. The temperature also played a role in how long fleas survived: at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, fleas could live for up to two weeks, but at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, they only survived for four to five days.
This is one of the reasons why fleas are more common in tropical countries, where there’s little to no rain, but the humidity and moisture levels are high.
Light & Dark
Another study found that fleas survived the longest in dark conditions. Fleas exposed to light only survived for four to five days, while fleas exposed to darkness survived for up to two weeks.
This is likely because light affects a flea’s circadian rhythm, which is the 24-hour cycle that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. When a flea is exposed to light, it becomes more active and uses up more energy. This can lead to dehydration and death.
Pets & People
While fleas can live on both pets and people, they prefer to live on animals because they’re a source of food. Fleas will only bite humans if they can’t find a suitable animal host.
Fleas will usually only stay on a human for a few minutes before they jump off in search of an animal. This is because humans don’t have the same amount of fur as animals, which makes it harder for fleas to stay attached. Additionally, human skin is thinner than animal skin, so fleas can’t get as much blood from humans.
But don’t take this for granted. Even though fleas don’t like staying on human skin, it doesn’t mean that they won’t. If there are no animal hosts around, they’re more likely to stay in your scalp, armpits, and groin area because these areas are warmer and have more hair.
Grass & Carpets
Fleas can also live in grass and carpets. In fact, fleas are often found in carpeting because it’s a warm and dry environment that’s close to the ground. This is where they can find their animal hosts.
However, fleas can only survive in the grass for a few days because the blades of grass prevent them from getting the moisture they need. On the other hand, fleas may thrive and breed in carpets because of its fibers, which can provide the fleas with a place to hide.
Cleaning & Pest Control
Fleas control is important to prevent infestations. The best way to get rid of fleas is to vacuum regularly and wash your bedding in hot water. You should also treat your pets with a monthly flea preventative.
Do You Need to Apply Flea Treatments on Your Pet All Year Round?
As much as possible, yes. These bloodsucking insects don’t discriminate and will feast on your beloved pet any time of the year. But there are certain times when flea activity is at its peak, making it necessary to be extra vigilant in applying flea treatments.
For instance, using flea shampoos all year round might be a great preventative measure. During summer or spring, you may be extra vigilant and use additional flea products such as spot-on treatments, powders, and/or flea sprays. You can never be too prepared. A single flea can cause an infestation, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Final Thoughts
Do fleas prefer wet or dry conditions? Fleas generally prefer damp and humid conditions. This is why they are often found in areas such as dog kennels, pet beddings, and gardens. They thrive in environments where there is an ample amount of moisture to help them survive.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t do well in winter or other climates. They still can – as they are resilient creatures and can survive even the harshest weather conditions. However, it’ll be a little bit more difficult for them to reproduce and feed on hosts.
