Egg production and emergence of adult cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) exposed to different photoperiods.

Laboratory cats were infested with a known number of cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), to determine the effects of photoperiod on flea egg production. Photoperiods of 8:16, 12:12, and 16:8 (L:D) h were chosen to represent winter, spring/fall, and summer, respectively. There were no significant differences in daily or total flea egg production among the 3 photoperiods. To determine the effects of photoperiod on development of immature stages and subsequent adult emergence from cocoons, eggs collected during each photoperiod experiment were reared under the 3 described light and dark conditions. Resulting differences suggest that photoperiod may influence the emergence behavior of adults from cocoons.