Editing Flea (section)

=== Larva ===
[[File:Flea Larva.jpg|thumb|upright|Flea larva]]

Flea larvae emerge from the eggs to feed on any available organic material such as dead insects, faeces, [[Biological specificity|conspecific]] eggs, and vegetable matter. In laboratory studies, some dietary diversity seems necessary for proper larval development. Blood-only diets allow only 12% of larvae to mature, whereas blood and yeast or dog chow diets allow almost all larvae to mature.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Silverman |first1=Jules |last2=Appel |first2=Arthur |date=March 1994 |title=Adult Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Excretion of Host Blood Proteins in Relation to Larval Nutrition |url=http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jsilver/Silverman%20and%20Appel%201994.pdf |journal=Journal of Medical Entomology |issue=2 |pages=265–271 |doi=10.1093/jmedent/31.2.265 |access-date=18 July 2014 |volume=31 |pmid=7910638 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725150050/http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jsilver/Silverman%20and%20Appel%201994.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another study also showed that 90% of larvae matured into adults when the diet included nonviable eggs.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shryock |first=J. |date=2006 |title=Time Spent by Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Larvae in Food Patches of Varying Quality |journal=Environmental Entomology |doi= 10.1603/0046-225x-35.2.401|volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=401–404|doi-access=free }}</ref> They are blind and avoid sunlight, keeping to dark, humid places such as sand or soil, cracks and crevices, under carpets and in bedding.<ref name=Hinkle/> The entire larval stage lasts between four and 18 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orkin.com/other/fleas/fleas-life-cycle|title=Flea Life Cycle: Eggs, Larvae, etc.|website=Orkin.com|date=11 April 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref>