Adult fleas, as we know, represent only 1% of the total population of fleas. The 99% left are hidden in the environment in the shape of eggs or larvae. 36 to 48 hours after taking blood from an animal, the female flea starts to lay its eggs. Just one female lays about 200 eggs in her lifetime.

The egg hatches within 1 to 10 days and results in a larva. This larva will avoid light or dryness by going deep inside carpets or slots in the floors. After aging, the larva transforms itself into a full grown flea and waits for the right moment to hatch. The flea can detect the presence of an animal , hatch and settle on an animal's skin to extract blood ( with favourable conditions like heat and humidity) , the entire cycle can last around 3 weeks . With the wrong conditions ( no animal or low temperatures ) the cycle can last up to 6 months.

Possible Risks:

• The flea feeds on the animal's blood thus weakening it. In younger animals, the infestation can provoke severe anaemia, which could be fatal .
• A flea sting could be irritating, it disturbs the animal and provoke scratching. It could, in case of severe infestation disturb the lives of the owners.
• The flea sting could cause FAD ( flea allergy dermatitis ) . It is the flea's saliva that could cause these allergic reactions to these animals.
• The flea could transmit tapeworm. The animal can contaminate itself simply by swallowing a flea that has this parasite. This is observed in the animal's stools with the presence of tapeworm rings which have the shape of grains of rice.

Treatments:

• The first thing is to vacuum the entire home.
• The animal must be treated next.

The chosen treatment must fill many criteria:

• the type of animal and it's age
• the duration of the product's action
• the facility to use the product
• the resistance to baths and shampoos