Question
Hi,
How long can fleas live without eating blood?  We have a cottage that had a pet.  The little doggie occasionally had a flea or two or three.  Of course we can treat the cottage, but just out of curiosity, what would happen if we just left it vacant for a few weeks or whatever?
Thanks,

Answer
Art,

It depends a lot on temperature but most insects, including fleas, can survive for long periods without feeding. Your best option might be to just thoroughly vacuum the cottage as this will likely remove any adult fleas that might still be around. You could also treat with an insect growth regulator to prevent immature fleas from developing into adults (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/fleas.html for details).

Jack DeAngelis