Pictures of Flea Larvae

picture of a flea larva on white background

Peter J. Bryant

Img 1 Picture of a cat flea larva (Ctenocephalides felis) on a light-colored background.

picture of a cat flea larva under microscope with red blood in its digestive track

Kalumet

Img 2 Microscope image of a cat flea larva (baby flea) with visible red blood in its digestive track.

illustration of flea larva

FleaScience

Img 3 Illustration of a cat flea larva compared to the size of a sharp #2 pencil tip (1 mm).

picture of shed flea larval casings

Auguste Le Roux

Img 4 Picture of shed larval casings from previous moults, along with an egg and feces from adults.

picture of white prepupae larvae of the cat flea

Auguste Le Roux

Img 5 Picture of 3rd instar cat flea larva in the prepupa stage after voiding its gut.

animated gif of flea larvae living in carpet fibers

Fleas — Michael Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD

Img 6 Flea larvae living within carpet fibers, the most common place to find larvae in homes.

picture of baby flea hatching from egg

Cat Flea Biology

Img 7 Cat flea larva hatching from its egg with an egg burster spine located on its head.

picture of flea larva ctenocephalides felis eating flea dirt

Cat Flea Biology

Img 8 Cat flea larvae feeding on a spherule of adult fecal blood (“flea dirt”).

picture of cat flea larvae forming a cocoon

Cat Flea Biology

Img 9 A cat flea larva creating a silken cocoon. The mandibles are used to form the structure while silk is excreted from labial (salivary) glands.

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  • Hey carolina October 2, 2017, 7:49 pm

    We are having trouble with fleas. We’ve fumigated,, fogged, and an exterminater has come 3 times we have vacuumed and still vacuuming. Oh and my husband the dust you put on the grass. We took every toy out side and have put bedding in bags. We have no pets so we don’t understand why there still here.It started right after my breast surgery on June 29. My husband would ask if any thing was biting me and of course I was still under medications so didnot feel them after 5 weeks is when they started biting me too. We bag our dirty clothes and put our clean clothes in bags right after washing. We’re at our woods end and they seem to stay alive in the bag to it seems nothing I do works. Were dead tired I sleep wrap like a cocoon and they won’t go away. What are we doing wrong

    • Adam Retzer October 3, 2017, 10:37 am

      If you don’t pets, then I’d guess you’re dealing with human fleas (P. irritans). This species is somewhat rare and not the focus of this site. Regardless, control for human fleas is the same as other species.

      It sounds like you’ve taken all the correct steps. Applying an insect growth regulator (IGR) to the environment, and vacuuming regularly should eliminate the infestation in about 8 weeks. Our page on How to get rid of fleas has comprehensive control information for more details.

      I’m not sure why the control procedures aren’t working. Your situation seems odd. I think an in-person evaluation would be needed to tell what’s going on. Perhaps consider hiring a different pest control specialist? Are you positive you are dealing with fleas, and not another pest like bed bugs? Fleas don’t stay on people or infest clothing, so it’s strange that you are finding them in the bags with your clothes.

      I’m sorry I can’t offer more assistance. Unusual cases such as yours often require taking a look in person, which a pest control specialist can do.

      • Audrey July 13, 2019, 7:50 pm

        Fleas do I get into clothing. I know from experience. I just had to move out of my apartment because it was so bad and nothing worked!! The larvae feed on organic material. They like just about everything u can think of. Even you. I also pet sit, which I’m gonna have to quit, for a woman with a dog who has fleas. Same exact thing that happened to me in my apartment happens to me at her house. Be careful, ur car is probably infested too. Mine was!! So ur just carrying them back and forth. The stages of the flea life are what make it so hard to get rid of. It’s a constant Battle. Constant!! Do u notice little white haircut like things all over ur stuff? Especially ur electronics? That’s the flea larvae also. The aren’t supposed to like light but they love ur phone screen. Look carefully and closely. If uve got a flea infestation, u’ll see them. Idk what works exactly. I left but I’m highly allergic them. For some reason they prefer certain people. One thing I found actually kills them and it’s a soap. U can get it at Walmart. It’s called hibclens soap. It’s by the pharmacy by the poison ivy, and band-aid stuff (same isle). It’s actually a surgical soap. At least it used to be. Before, u couldn’t find it anywhere like Walmart. It’s antibacterial and antimicrobial. I used it as shampoo and body wash. It will dry ur hair so make sure u use conditioner after. Also, get an empty spray bottle and pour a few squirts of soap in it and then some water. Shake it up. U know u mixed it well if it’s a little pink in color. The soap is red. U can use that to spray on anything. Clean with it, Do whatever u gotta do. It kills them but the soap is kinda expensive considering the size of the bottles. There’s a 4oz and an 8oz at Walmart. The 4oz is 5.96 or something, basically$6 and some change, and the bigger bottle is $9 something, so a little more than$10. However, I just found it in Amazon. U can actually buy it in gallons size. But, I’d try the small bottle first to make sure it even works for u. Good luck.

    • Yolanda December 3, 2017, 3:34 pm

      I too are dealing with the same situation and don’t know what to do

      • Yolanda December 3, 2017, 3:35 pm

        I have also had a bug problem with them in my car

  • Georgeanne September 2, 2018, 2:47 pm

    I too had a terrible problem with fleas. I found a recipe that called for 5 part borax to 1 part salt. Sprinkle throughout your house, carpets, upholstery, into cracks in the floor. Let it there for 24 hours or more. Vacuum and reapply as needed. Breaks the flea’s life cycle. Works better then every insecticide I used.

  • Brian October 14, 2018, 11:59 am

    My cat has what looks like flea larvae coming out of his anus does any over the counter meds cure this problem

    • Adam Retzer October 21, 2018, 12:10 pm

      This sounds like some kind of worm, no flea larvae. I am not an expert on worms, but look for de-worming medications or talk to a veterinarian.

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