What Do Flea Eggs Look Like?
By Mary Brier
Did you know that a female flea can lay over 40 eggs per day? Each female flea lays her eggs on an animal’s skin, which makes it easy for them to roll off into the nearby environment.
After some time, these eggs hatch into larvae, which seek out warm and dark areas to form a cocoon and become pupae, which are notoriously difficult to kill. Once fully formed, adult fleas emerge from their cocoons and seek potential nearby hosts – and if they emerge in or near your home, that host is probably your pet.
That means that removing flea eggs is a crucial part of preventing flea infestations down the road. Just like you look for live fleas, you should check your pets and home for signs of flea eggs regularly.
But what do flea eggs look like, exactly, and what should you do if you see them? Below, we dive into the answers to these questions and more.
What do flea eggs look like?
Flea eggs can be tricky to spot with the naked eye; at just 0.5mm, they’re about the size of a grain of salt. They’re also white or translucent in color, making them even harder to see. If you can set your sights on a flea egg, though, you’ll notice that it’s oval-shaped and smooth. It should also easily roll off fur.
Image from Market Muse Creative
Where are flea eggs commonly found?
Flea populations flourish in dark, humid areas, like leafy debris piles and underneath decks. They can make their way indoors when their eggs fall off of pets onto bedding, carpets, and furniture.
Shaded, humid areas also happen to be where many pets like to rest when outside, which can expose your four-legged friends to flea eggs. If fleas do make their way onto your pet, you’ll likely notice them around the neck, belly, or at the base of the tail.
Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash
How to differentiate flea eggs from other debris
At first glance, the small, oval-shaped appearance of flea eggs makes them easy to mistake for other particles, namely dandruff or flea dirt.
Dandruff flakes are caused by an overgrowth of fungus on the skin, not flea infections. These flakes are usually irregular in shape and tend to cling to the fur due to their slightly oily, sticky texture. Flea eggs, meanwhile, are uniform in size and usually roll off the fur pretty easily.
Like dandruff, a substance known as flea dirt – dried flea feces made up of blood and waste – can look like eggs from afar. But unlike flea eggs, flea dirt is dark in color. It turns red when exposed to water due to the presence of digested blood. Flea eggs will remain white even when wet.
How to get rid of flea eggs
So, you’ve spotted flea eggs – or what you think could be flea eggs. Now what? Your next step is to fully eliminate the eggs from your pet and your home before they spread any further. Here’s what you need to know.
On pets
If you spot flea eggs on your pet or believe they may have been exposed, the best thing you can do is target the area with veterinarian-approved flea treatments. From topical solutions to flea shampoos and oral medications, there are plenty of options available to suit pets with different needs.
Beyond treating the area, you can also limit the spread of flea eggs by regularly grooming your pet. Use a flea comb to gently remove eggs and flea dirt. Be sure to wash all pet bedding and soft furnishings with hot water, too.
In the home
Even if you don’t see flea eggs in your home, if you’ve seen them on your pet, you should assume they could also be elsewhere. Vacuum all carpets, rugs, furniture, and baseboards daily to fully remove flea eggs from your home.
In cases of severe infestations, you may want to consider calling professional pest control services to determine the best course of action.
How to prevent flea eggs from hatching
You may not always be able to spot and remove every single flea egg your pet comes into contact with. That’s where flea prevention methods come in handy. Take steps like these to prevent flea eggs from hatching into larvae that burrow further into your home.
Use year-round preventatives
Protect your furry friends by regularly applying veterinarian-recommended flea treatments to pets. You can contact your veterinarian for a specific medication recommendation. A few popular options are listed below:
Simparica Chewable Tablets for Dogs
Veterinarians consistently point to Simparica as one of the best flea-prevention medications, and it’s not hard to see why. These chewables are easy to administer, relatively affordable, and highly effective, offering your pet protection for a full month per tablet.
Bravecto Topical Solution for Dogs
If you want something extra long-lasting, go for a topical solution like this one from Bravecto. The topical lasts nearly three times longer than other monthly treatments, giving you up to 12 weeks of tick and flea protection with a single dose.
Seresto Flea and Tick Collar
A flea collar is the ultimate low-maintenance flea prevention solution. We like this one from Seresto because it’s odorless, non-greasy, and able to repel fleas by contact, which means they don’t need to bite your dog for the collar to work its magic.
Maintain a clean environment
There’s nothing that a teeny tiny pest loves more than a place to hide. Clutter provides an opportune environment to explore, feed, and thrive. Keep it to a minimum to naturally reduce the areas that fleas have to set up shop.
Because fleas can live in carpet fibers and furniture, it’s also important to extend your cleanliness habits to those, too. Vacuum frequently to remove any flea eggs that do make it indoors, and wash pet bedding regularly to do the same.
Check pets regularly
Even with all the preparation in the world, you still may not be able to entirely avoid any and all flea eggs. That’s why it’s so important to conduct routine flea checks for your furry friends, especially after a long romp outdoors.
Before heading indoors, take a moment to do a thorough scan of your pet. Pay close attention to areas where fleas and flea eggs tend to hide, such as:
- Around the tail
- Near the neck and around the collar
- Back of the rear legs
- Groin and belly
Yard maintenance
Make your yard an uninhabitable space for fleas and unwanted pests by keeping your grass trimmed as much as possible. Likewise, be sure to remove any debris where fleas and their hosts – like rodents – might hunker down.
Final thoughts
Flea eggs are nothing fun to deal with, but they’re certainly a lot better than a full-blown adult flea infestation. Nip flea populations in the bud by removing eggs when you see them, keeping your home and yard clutter-free, and thoroughly inspecting your pets for signs of fleas.
Even with the best prevention tactics ever, though, you won’t be able to stop all pests from interacting with your pet. That’s why it’s crucial to use flea preventatives – whether it’s a topical, collar, or pill – to keep your pet safe.
And, as always, consult a veterinarian if you’re not sure whether your pet is experiencing an infestation or another issue.
Author Bio:
Mary Brier is a writer, SEO expert, and managing co-founder of Inkless Writing Agency. She shares book reviews and writing advice on her YouTube channel, @siobhanbrieraguilar. She has traveled and lived throughout much of the Americas and is an avid animal lover. She lived for one year on the Galapagos Islands, meeting all sorts of creatures. She is the proud mother to a long-haired Jack Russel named Argo. You can sign up for her newsletter at siobhanbrier.com, get writing advice from inklessagency.com, or follow her on LinkedIn.
